Bennelong One residents oppose bid by The Squire’s Landing to trade 24/7 at Circular Quay
Residents of a ritzy harbourside building are railing against a bar and restaurant that wants to open around the clock, despite it being on the other side of Circular Quay.
Central Sydney
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Sydney’s wealthy are at war with a waterfront bar and restaurant that wants to open around the clock, in a battle that is set to test the Minns government and Lord Mayor Clover Moore on their commitment to creating a city that never sleeps.
The Squire’s Landing is seeking approval to trial opening its doors 24/7, in a move it said would support Sydney’s night-time economy and “enhance the vibrancy” of Circular Quay.
But just days after The Daily Telegraph revealed a new push to allow CBD entertainment businesses to operate all night long, a group of nameless NIMBYs at the nearby Bennelong One building — colloquially known as “The Toaster” — is threatening to derail the venue’s desires.
In a submission to the state planning department, the owners of 20 apartments in the ritzy building claim noise from the venue will travel 400m over the water to their homes and stop them being able to sleep.
The residents, whose names have been redacted from the submission, complained they were already experiencing noise from bands, DJs and recorded music “emanating” from The Squire’s Landing.
“This noise significantly impacts resident peace and quiet enjoyment of their habitat as well as their health and wellbeing,” the submission states.
“In particular, at a time when the majority of residents go to sleep between 9.30pm and 10.30pm.
“Sound travels faster through water and as there are no buildings to block soundwaves (the) noise emanating from the Squires Landing hits directly to the bedrooms and lounge area of the water facing apartments.”
NSW Police have also weighed in on the plans, calling for strict noise limits to be imposed on The Squire’s Landing if the 24/7 operating hours are approved.
The limits would include requiring the venue not to exceed background noise when measured from the Bennelong building between 9pm and 7am as well as a condition requiring noise to not be audible within any of the building’s units.
Business Sydney executive Paul Nicolaou, who has backed the 24/7 Sydney trading plan, believes residents of busy inner city precincts, such as Circular Quay, should expect a level of noise.
“At the end of the day, Sydney is an international global city and we don’t want to be one of those cities that shuts down at 9pm,” he said.
“Sydney wants to be pumping and we should be encouraging businesses to be allowed to operate 24/7 if they want to.”
Sydneysiders also expressed their support on Monday, with Thomas Watson describing the proposal as “massive” and declaring it was “about time”.
The 26-year-old said everything in Sydney was “dead” by 1am, unlike places to which he had travelled in Europe.
“I think anything that brings excitement and to the city is great,” the 26-year-old said.
“Sydney nightlife has been dead for a long time and this would great for the economy.”
The Squire’s Landing Patron Joshua Hellwege, 30, said everything closing by about 1am “isn’t much fun”.
“Mate, I’m always down for the idea of 24-hour piss,” he said.
“It’s a good joint in there.”
University student Martin Atanasov also backed the plan.
“If you bought a place in the middle of the city, what are you expecting?” he asked.
“If you’re looking for calm and quiet, buy a farm house.
“I definitely back (the proposal). This city has died.
“We were surprised the other day to see so many people around here past 8pm, which is a sad thought for such a global city.”
In its plans, The Squire’s Landing said 24/7 trading would “enhance the vibrancy and activity of Circular Quay”.
”Given the venue’s location in proximity to public transport and the (cruise terminal) it is an ideal meeting spot for a variety of group types and sizes,” the plans state.
While the 24/7 plan does not include any new noise mitigation measures, the venue said it already had “robust noise and amenity mitigation measures” in place.
A City of Sydney spokeswoman said the council, headed by Clover Moore, was “doing all we can to support the continued growth of the local night-time economy”.
“These proposals would make it easier and cheaper for venues to trade later, while balancing the sound management needs of businesses and residents,” she said.
NSW Premier Chris Minns directed requests for comment on the proposal to the Minister for Music and the Night-Time Economy, John Graham, who said Sydney had “spent the better part of the past decade being locked out and shut down”.
“The NSW Labor Government has the goal of a 24-hour Sydney, backing our nightlife and the workers and businesses in the industry,” Mr Graham said.
“Through our vibrancy reforms, we are making it easier for people to come together and have a good time.”
The Bennelong building – which was completed in 1998 – is one of Sydney’s premium addresses, with apartments selling for as much as $25.1m.
Hotel baron Sam Arnaout and broadcaster Alan Jones have been among the Sydney celebrities who have called “The Toaster” home over the years.
There is no suggestion either is among the group of unknown residents objecting to the proposal put forward by The Squire’s Landing.
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