Parramatta Local Planning Panel approves restaurants, rooftop bar at heritage Westpac building

A hospitality group forced to reverse a controversial ban on Australia Day celebrations at its venues has progressed plans for restaurants and a rooftop bar in Sydney’s west. But music lovers might be disappointed.

The former Westpac bank at Church St Parramatta is set to be converted into a boutique restaurant and bar.

A major hospitality group has had a win after being forced to reverse its controversial ban on Australia Day activities at its venues, with plans for restaurants and a rooftop bar in western Sydney a step closer to reality.

Australian Venue Co (AVC) plans to convert the sandstone, heritage-listed Westpac bank building in the Parramatta CBD into a boutique venue into the culinary drawcard.

The Parramatta Local Planning Panel recently approved developer Holdmark’s plans for the Church St venue, which AVC will operate as it expands into Sydney’s west.

The project must still win approval from Parramatta Council but it is likely to be given the green light now the panel has given the plans its blessing – with conditions that include an 11pm curfew for music on the rooftop.

“Music occurring on the rooftop area must cease by 11pm nightly,’’ the condition reads.

How the rooftop bar could look.

“Reason: To protect the amenity of the surrounding area.’’

The panel also approved the restaurant and bar to ensure continued use of a heritage-listed building in Parramatta and to foster a cultural character and “level of vibrancy” linked with late night trading.

An artist's impression of the new venue.

The panel imposed a similar curfew on the Albion Hotel last year when it approved its new location at Smith St on the condition there was no live music to protect the neighbourhood’s amenity.

Despite the setback for music lovers, there are positive trends for night owls in Sydney’s west.

Exclusive data from the 24-hour Economy Commission’s Data After Dark report reveals Sydneysiders are choosing to party closer to home, opting to instead spend the night out in Blacktown, St Marys, Merrylands and Parramatta instead of the Sydney CBD.

While night-time businesses such as bars and restaurants grew in inner city suburbs by nearly 5 per cent in the past two years, Blacktown saw a nearly 25 per cent boom while night-time businesses in Merrylands and Parramatta grew by more than 14 per cent.

AVC issued an apology in December after it faced nationwide backlash for its decision to bar January 26 events at its 15 NSW venues and more than 100 others interstate.

The hospitality giant released an apology saying it sincerely regretted the move to scrap activities due to concerns the day caused “sadness and hurt” among staff and patrons.

AVC was contacted for comment about its Parramatta CBD proposal but had not responded at the time of publication.