Parramatta: 1021 Mediterranean restaurant applies for longer hours, outdoor dining, smoking

Shisha smoking, traffic and noise – a long battle between a group of Parramatta apartment dwellers and the restaurant below their complex is escalating. Find out the latest.

On Sunset Lebanese restaurant at Parramatta.

A long-running battle between a group of residents at a Parramatta unit block and the restaurant downstairs has gone into overdrive after the business applied for an extension of trading hours.

The restaurant 1021 Mediterranean – formerly known as On Sunset – wants to extend its hours from 7am to 11pm Sundays to Thursday instead of 7am to 9pm.

The owners are also seeking permission from the council to allow live music (except drums and percussion instruments) inside the restaurant from Friday to Sunday between 10am and 6pm, along with outdoor dining and smoking shisha and cigarettes.

An application described how outdoor dining was in the public interest and created a vibrant public space, “which is severely lacking from this section of the river frontage’’.

“Allowing outdoor dining will assist in activating the waterfront and improve the safety and security of the public domain,’’ the document said.

The restaurant when it was known as On Sunset.

“Restaurants and the retail industry have been through a very difficult few years with the restrictions and lockdowns due to Covid. Businesses need to take advantage of their locations and where possible enable patrons to sit outside in the fresh air.’’

However, the proposal generated 37 submissions after a public consultation period in December and January when opponents expressed concerns over noise, parking, smoke and the loss of property value.

Council documents said the business was already not operating with consent and “any intensification would just exacerbate the situation, as well as put the safety of nearby residents at risk’’.

NSW Police have also cited several breaches of the premise’s liquor licence and having to pay constant visits to deal with noise complaints.

Parramatta Council recommended the local planning panel refuse the request because of noise and safety concerns, which were discussed at the panel’s meeting on Tuesday.

Residents of the River Rd West complex first approached Parramatta councillor Patricia Prociv about their concerns in 2019 when the restaurant was the Middle Eastern restaurant, On Sunset.

Cr Prociv voiced her disapproval for the application and said the communtity was concerned about blocked streets, hazardous air quality from shisha and excessive noise.

She told the panel plans for music and extra trading hours would further disrupt the complex, where families with small children, the elderly, teachers, doctors and nurses lived.

“I believe the one thing to consider is would you want someone from your family to be treated by someone who’s sleep-deprived?,’’ she said.

1021 Mediterranean wants to provide shisha smoking for customers outside. Picture: Tony Gough

She said a petition was signed by 203 people – 169 residents of River Rd West and 34 from surrounding streets – who complained about the development in 2020.

“Residents tell me they are unable to open their windows without noise coming from the restaurant,’’ she said.

1021 Mediterranean manager Elias Bagher said the restaurant would be soundproofed and wanted to make the most of its riverside location while providing entertainment.

“We’ve got a massive Lebanese community,’’ he said.

“There isn’t a restaurant like ours in the vicinity of Parramatta compared to Church St where you have six or seven restaurants doing the same thing.

“We’re not asking to be partying to 3 or 4 o’clock in the morning either. It’s obviously a reasonable time and it’s not a Wednesday night where people have work the next day or school. It’s going to be a Saturday night.’’

The planning panel is due to deliver a decision on the proposal next week.