Inner West Council approves Comedor restaurant in Newtown to sell takeaway food, drinks at Camperdown Memorial Rest Park
Inner west NIMBYs have won the battle but lost the war, having failed to stop a restaurant installing a standing platform for takeaway customers despite earlier scuttling plans for an outdoor dining deck.
Inner West
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Inner west NIMBYs have won the battle but lost the war after failing to stop a restaurant building a standing platform for takeaway customers in a public park, having earlier scuttled plans for an outdoor dining deck.
The Inner West Council this week gave the green light to amended plans put forward by Comedor, which will be permitted to serve takeaway cafe-style food and beverages from a window at the rear of its Mexican restaurant in Newtown.
But some councillors are divided over whether the amended plans, approved by nine votes to five, “successfully addressed community concerns”.
Comedor’s initial plan for an outdoor dining deck sparked a wave of opposition from locals, who claimed they had not been properly informed of the proposal, which they also labelled an attempt to privatise public land because the venue backs onto Camperdown Memorial Rest Park.
The revised plans still sparked outrage among locals, with 211 NIMBYs signing a petition to halt the project, claiming the public park was being “hived off”.
“Our iconic Camperdown Memorial Rest Park has recently escaped having a little bit hived off for private and for profit use,” the petition, posted prior to the amended plans being approved on Tuesday, said.
“Thanks to community outcry, councillors did decide to pause the process.
“However, if the new agreement goes ahead, a precedent is set for this to expand and for others to do the same.”
In addition to limiting service from the rear window to takeaway orders, the approved plans involve a reduction of the size of the platform.
Comodor will also have to reapply to the council in 12 months for continued use.
According to council documents, the owner indicated he planned to sell takeaway coffee and tea, fresh fruit juices, frozen drinks, pastries, toasted sandwiches, quesadillas and ice creams.
However, Newtown local Amy Grey said it “baffles” her that the council even entertained the proposal.
“Council is wrong to conclude that removing the tables and chairs has successfully addressed community concerns,” she told a council meeting.
“A deck of people standing on it is not that different from a deck of people sitting on it and children can’t play or enjoy sport and recreational around that area.
“It baffles me that you are even considering such a proposal.”
Inner West councillor Chloe Smith said she was satisfied the amended proposal addressed community concerns as best it could.
“This agreement will provide park users with direct access to one of Sydney’s best restaurants, meaning they can enjoy a coffee or snack while watching their kids at the nearby playground,” she said.
“Similar agreements are in place with enterprises in other inner west parks, including Yeo Park in Ashfield, Badu Park in Annandale (and) Leichhardt Park.
“These establishments are assets to the community … I’m confident Comedor will make a similar contribution.”
Residents also claimed the amended proposal was also not communicated to locals, but Cr Smith said 2700 letters had been hand-delivered to houses within 150m of the park and extensive information was available online.
Inner West councillor Liz Atkins said many members of the community were confused about why there was such a hurry to approve this proposal.
“The community feels that the consultation process has not been done well,” she said.
“The overwhelming response from people I spoke to and interacted with on social media was against the proposed hire agreement.
“But there were also people in favour of it who are concerned about loss of community amenity.”
At Tuesday’s council meeting, Leichhardt local Charles Bailey spoke on behalf of Comedor owner Walter Shellshear, who said the business had co-operated with all the council’s requests and requirements.
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