Residents oppose flashy new Brisbane microbrewery

Not all residents are excited by the prospect of a derelict waterside property on Brisbane’s bayside being turned into a flashy new microbrewery.

The site of a proposed development for a seafood restaurant, bar and takeaway at 18 Fox St, Wynnum.

NOT all residents are excited by the prospect of a derelict waterside property on Brisbane’s bayside being turned into a flashy new microbrewery.

Lawson Hospitality Group has submitted a development application to Brisbane City Council to rejuvenate the former Fox St fish markets in Wynnum, which closed in 2011, into a fish and chip restaurant, hotel, function facility and microbrewery.

Council is currently assessing the application, which has received more negative responses from residents in the community consultation process.

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One of those submissions was from Elaine Rose, a resident of Glenora St for more than 20 years, who said the noise and traffic the venue would bring would be a big problem. “It’s a residential area and they want to have a venue which has live music almost until midnight, which is just madness,” she said.

“It’s an extremely quiet area, especially at night, there’s a little bit of noise in the morning but that’s expected. However if this goes ahead, it’ll be a major problem for all nearby residents.

“Also with the traffic, there’s not enough room as it is let alone if a brewery comes in and it floods the surrounding streets with cars even more.”

ALP Councillor for Wynnum Manly Peter Cumming said “the concerns expressed by local residents in relation to late night alcohol consumption are valid”.

“It’s hard because the venue is at a park surrounded by residential so any noise is kind of amplified because there are so many people living there,” he said.

Property owner Mark Lawson at the old Wynnum Seafood site, shows the sketch for the proposed hotel and microbrewery development. Picture: AAP Image/Regi Varghese

But Lawson Hospitality Group general manager Mark Lawson said they had taken steps to ensure noise would not be an issue.

“We’ve soundproofed more than we probably would have liked. We’ve planned for big soundproof glass doors, which isn’t ideal for people eating and enjoying the venue but we’ve taken that step to address any noise issues.

“We are a small brewery with a restaurant and cafe, we are not trying to attract a crowd that will be drinking until the end of the night.

“We want to be a venue where people come for a flavour experience, we are not going to be a venue where people come to get sloshed and are getting making noise late at night.

“With traffic concerns, we don’t expect there to be any issues at all.”

Mr Lawson said he was happy to meet and discuss the issues with residents, who can contact him via the Wynnum Fish Market Developments Info Facebook page.

“There are a lot of people that a for this development and anyone who is against it, I would love the chance to discuss the issues with them and work through it,” he said.