Birthday party and christening for 150 people lands venue $10k fine
A club in Sydney’s west has been fined for holding a birthday party and christening for 75 people at each event, breaching the 10-person COVIDSafe guidelines. The Sunday Telegraph also reveals the 15 other venues which copped fines last week. WATCH THE CCTV AND SEE THE LIST OF VENUES FINED
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A birthday party and a christening were held at a western Sydney venue over two separate nights with more than 100 people attending, resulting in that club being served with fines totalling $10,000.
The two parties were held at the Croatian Club in Punchbowl on different nights in early September with each event booked for 75 people — well above the 10-person limit.
The club was among 16 licensed venues issued fines this week as part of an ongoing enforcement crackdown across Sydney, with the majority in Redfern.
The illegal events at Punchbowl were uncovered during an inspection conducted on September 5 with officers observing about 50 guests at an 18th birthday party “mingling and drinking” while standing.
The club’s booking records showed the party organisers had booked the venue for 75 guests.
It is understood the venue was warned that events of that size were not permitted.
However, when inspectors paid the club another visit on September 8, they found a 75-person christening underway.
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In defending the event, the duty manager allegedly told the inspectors that it had been too late to cancel the event at such short notice given its size.
Liquor & Gaming compliance director Dimitri Argeres said the club now risked being shut down should further breaches be detected.
Under regulations put in place in response to the pandemic, hospitality venues should not be taking bookings above 10 patrons unless the event is a wedding reception, funeral, wake, memorial service, or corporate function.
“Only these events are exempted from the 10-person limit,” Mr Argeres said.
“Big functions and large group bookings put people in the sort of proximity that contributes to virus transmission, and a happy occasion can easily turn into a tragedy that directly impacts your nearest and dearest.
“Function centres and other hospitality venues must enforce the specific health orders around group bookings. They risk significant penalties, and closure if found breaching the Public Health Orders.”
Liquor & Gaming, SafeWork NSW and NSW Fair Trading have now handed out 122 fines to hospitality businesses, worth $552,000.
Other fines issues included a double fine of $10,000 fine this week to the Whiskey Tango bar at Len Waters Estate for no conditions of entry on display, an out-of-date safety plan
patron crowding exceeding one person per four square metres, patrons standing and mingling while drinking, close queues at the bar, groups of patrons seated at chairs and tables too close together when Liquor & Gaming inspectors visited on September 5.
Customer Services Minister Victor Dominello said it staggered belief that some operators were still not getting message about being COVID-safe.
“This is about keeping businesses open and customers and staff safe during a pandemic,” he said.
“We will continue to fine businesses to ensure this remains the case.”