Jordan Springs divided over Laundy pub plan with pokies, beer
A replica gun with a sign saying “kill the pub plan” is at the centre of a poisonous debate in a western Sydney suburb about whether to allow the area its first-ever watering hole — with one side fearing the tavern will destroy the “family-friendly” suburb.
NSW
Don't miss out on the headlines from NSW. Followed categories will be added to My News.
A dispute over plans to build a fledgling western Sydney suburb its first pub has turned ugly amid claims of vandalism and abuse, and a gun-like front lawn sculpture.
On one side is pub baron Craig Laundy, Sydney Business Chamber Western Sydney director David Borger and more than 570 petitioners to Penrith Council, who say Jordan Springs needs a watering hole to give the locals a place to meet and relax.
On the other is a vocal local crowd of campaigners who say they’ve been abused and had signs vandalised for saying the proposed pub’s pokies will fleece locals and alcohol will make domestic violence worse.
If the 250-person pub along with its 25 poker machines is approved by a State government planning panel, it would mean 65 poker machines have been put into new Western Sydney venues since October 2018.
“We’ve got no interest in having a doof doof music style venue and creating lots of problems for neighbours,” Mr Laundy, a former federal Liberal MP, said.
“I spent a couple of Saturdays speaking to people at the shops and the feedback was overwhelmingly positive.”
GET MORE CONNECTED:
What you get as a subscriber to The Daily Telegraph
Download our app and stay up to date anywhere, anytime
Mr Laundy said just as growth areas need schools and shops “we also need social infrastructure”.
The 5026 sqm site is located within 100m of a block of apartments and nearby over-55s retirement living area.
Another local wrote on a public forum: “It would be great to have somewhere local to catch up and unwind and enjoy some entertainment.”
But despite the pub also featuring a kids play area, not everyone is happy.
Nearby resident David Bentham has created a sculpture of what he admits “looks like a gun” outside the front of his home with a sign that says “kill the pub plan”.
Mr Bentham, 85, admits that he gambles and drinks in moderation but believes the area would suffer overall with a new pub.
He said the area’s domestic violence problem — almost twice the NSW rate of 396.7 per 100,000 population — would get worse.
“I’m also worried about drunks pissing in my letterbox, creating noise and destroying the family-friendly atmosphere of the suburb,” he said.
“I’ve also been abused by people under 25 who have been driving past in their cars and had other signs defaced.
“I wouldn’t be opposed to a smaller bar within the shopping centre without poker machines.”
Nearby resident Calla Hilse, who is planning to raise children in the suburb, said “having a pub would disrupt the family-friendly nature of Jordan Springs”.
Another man said he’s selling his home because of the incoming pub.
Of the 658 suburbs in Sydney, at least 141 — 21 per cent — of them don’t have a pub or club.
A total of 52 don’t have a liquor licence — bottle shop or restaurant — of any kind, analysis of Liquor & Gaming NSW figures reveal.
In the past two years 23 new hotels have opened in NSW. Of these, two have gaming machines: The Marsden Brewhouse, Marsden Park — 20 machines — and The Hurlstone Park Hotel, Hurlstone Park with 20 machines.
Western Sydney director of the Sydney Business Chamber David Borger said “it’s ridiculous that we have prohibitions on one suburb”.
“Pubs are the social heart of a neighbourhood and if anything we need more smaller venues scattered throughout the neighbourhoods of western Sydney.”
Originally published as Jordan Springs divided over Laundy pub plan with pokies, beer