Bianchini’s Espresso cafe gets approved to become small bar in Cronulla

An iconic cafe owned by the Sutherland Shire mayor has drawn the ire of residents who opposed the venue becoming a small bar with extended opening hours because they’re worried about their sleep.

Bianchini’s Espresso cafe will become a bar in the evening, with extended hours of operation, once it moves to its new location down the road. Picture: Google Maps

A new small bar is coming to Cronulla after the Sutherland mayor successfully applied to make his well-known cafe a night-time venue despite strong opposition from nearby residents.

The Sutherland Shire Planning Panel approved a development application to change Bianchini’s Espresso cafe to a bar in the evening, with extended hours of operation, at 49 Gerrale St, Cronulla.

The cafe will be located on the ground floor fronting Surf Lane at the rear of the recently constructed mixed-used development known as Wavelength Apartment.

The popular cafe will move to the new site and will be next to Hurricanes Bar and Grill restaurant.

The cafe was approved in January 2022 to operate from 7am to 10pm on Monday to Saturday and 7am to 8pm on Sunday and public holidays for breakfast and lunch.

The development application for the extended hours was submitted earlier this year and was updated in November before being submitted to the planning panel to avoid a conflict of interest because Sutherland Shire mayor Carmelo Pesce owns the restaurant, with another two sites at Elouera and Gymea.

The amended proposal sought consent to operate from 5.30am to 12am indoors and 6.30am to 10pm outdoors, seven days a week with a seating capacity of 100 patrons with 50 internal and 50 external.

The cafe will be located on the ground floor fronting Surf Lane at the rear of the recently constructed mixed-used development known as Wavelength Apartment. Picture: Google Maps

Residents of Wavelength and Peninsula apartments raised concerns about the potential noise impacts, hours of operation, traffic and parking, mechanical exhaust, use as small bar, building height and waste management.

They were particularly worried their sleep being disturbed due to the proposed hours of operation after 10pm and early in the morning.

Mr Pesce said at the planning panel meeting last week he owned “restaurants not nightclubs”, and had a similar offering in Gymea, where 30 units were above his cafe and there had been “no problems”.

He said he was only asking for what was “permissible” in the area and what any other restaurant owners would request for the location, adding Hurricanes had been approved for the same hours of operation.

Mr Pesce confirmed the venue would only trade inside between 10am and midnight, and said licensing police had suggested he apply for a “small bar” liquor licence.

He also added the extension of an exhaust flue would benefit residents because it would not be an eyesore.

Two penthouse residents spoke in opposition to the exhaust flue on the roof due to potential pollution and visual impact, adding they were worried about the impact on their health.

Scenic coastal views over The Esplanade and South Cronulla Beach, Cronulla, where locals and visitors flock for the beach, food and night-life. Picture: Destination NSW

They said they had not been contacted nor consulted, via their strata committee, about the exhaust flue.

Another Wavelength resident Janice Walker said she was concerned about noise and anti-social behaviour, adding she was worried about how staff would move people inside at 10pm.

In making a determination, the panel said after hearing from affected residents, they were concerned about potential noise impacts from outside area and the capacity.

The panel noted the hours of operation and the proposed conditions were generally consistent with other developments approved in the local area.

To mitigate noise impacts and manage internal venue capacity, the panel resolved to amend the recommended conditions to include a permanent acoustic screen in the outdoor area, and reiterated capacity limits.

Staff would close the doors at 10pm, not use the outdoor area after 10pm and before 7am and position the speakers away from the door.