Parramatta restaurant On Sunset plans to extend trading hours
Residents of a Parramatta apartment block that controversial figure Jean Nassif developed are objecting to a Lebanese restaurant’s plans to extend trading hours in their complex.
Parramatta
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A group of Parramatta apartment complex residents is in a pickle and opposing a Lebanese restaurant’s plans to extend trading hours to midnight.
The developer of the Toplace apartment complex is Jean Nassif, who is also the landlord of the On Sunset Lebanese restaurant at River Rd West and supports its request for extra trading hours from 8am to midnight every day.
Some residents claim the restaurant has hindered their quality of life and submitted a 196-signature petition to Parramatta Council, mainly citing noise concerns.
The popular restaurant, which seats about 150 diners and opened in 2018, trades from 9am to 11pm on Sunday, 5-11pm Monday to Wednesday and noon to 11pm on Friday.
At a recent council meeting, Councillor Patricia Prociv said residents were “gravely concerned” about plans for music and extend trading hours would disrupt the quiet atmosphere of their neighbourhood.
A letter submitted to the council said the neighbourhood was suburban and idyllic compared with the CBD.
“Working couples, families with small children and retired elders live in the apartments,’’ it said.
“Most importantly, On Sunset restaurant has hindered the quality of life for children, elderly and the community by excessive noise levels, hazardous air quality (from smoking Shisha) and patrons exploiting the residential parking and surrounding streets.’’
But On Sunset director Simon Tayounsaid the restaurant was forced to turn diners away and allowing it to trade to midnight would meet customer demand.
“To try and ask people to leave after 10pm after 1 ½ or two hours of dining is hard,’’ he said.
“It’s that domino effect when, if you’re moving 60 people at once at 10pm, of course they’re going to cause noise, of course they’re going to linger. It’s like our hands are tied.’’
Mr Tayoun dismissed suggestions the plans would include loud entertainment and said “tasteful’’ options would include a pianist to perform during dinner.
He said the restaurant made the neighbourhood safer and was part of the council’s vision to activate the riverfront.
“Why would you vote against a business adding character to the area?’’ he said.
Cr Benjamin Barrak said rejecting the restaurant’s request would set it up for failure and agreed it aligned with the council’s plan to transform Parramatta into a 24-hour city.
“A restaurant cannot possibly function for dinner if they have to shut at 9pm,’’ he said.
“It employs a lot of people and we are talking about the very fabric of whether a business can actually operate.
“We’re setting them up for failure. And I sympathise with the residents but if people choose to live in a CBD, or on the fringe of the CBD in this instance, then a certain degree of noise is to be expected.
“What should happen is there should be a medium ground where appropriate measures can be taken to minimise the impact.’’
A Toplace spokeswoman echoed the comments and said the restaurant was contributing to making Parramatta a livelier place.
“The purpose was to build and activate the Parramatta River Foreshore Heritage Walk and create a vibrant lifestyle on the river,’’ she said.
“It is inevitable that someone is going to be unhappy. However locals and a majority of residents are enjoying On Sunset which has become one of Sydney’s most reputable Lebanese restaurants.”
The council agreed to send the petition to the Planning Department to assess.