Catalina owner’s fresh bid to expand iconic Rose Bay venue
Catalina’s owners pulled their controversial development application last year. But they have gone back to the drawing board and have come up with a fresh proposal.
Wentworth Courier
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One of city’s most famous restaurants has submitted $3.8 million plans to build a second storey overlooking Sydney Harbour.
The proposal from the owners of Rose Bay’s Catalina comes after a controversial expansion plan was withdrawn last year following a battle with neighbours Sydney Seaplanes.
Although Sydney Seaplanes “strongly supported” the last development application, they hoped to have more input in the planning construction.
Sydney Seaplanes managing director Aaron Shaw said they were not notified of the last proposal by council.
“We received no information from the consent authority at that time, despite it being well and truly into determination,” he said.
Mr Shaw has not seen the plans for the new proposal.
The new development application, which has been submitted to Woollahra Council, is for an extra level on top of the distinct semicircular restaurant which would include a private dining room and bar, more office space, a kitchen, new bathrooms and staff changerooms.
Catalina is an institution in the eastern suburbs and is the place to be seen for Hollywood royalty and visiting celebs.
The stars to have dined there in recent years include Beyoncé, Al Pacino and Charlize Theron.
When asked about the drawn-out expansion process, owner Michael McMahon said he was “so bored of it all”.
“We have a really good business,” Mr McMahon said.
“There’s always a demand for private functions and (private) rooms. It’s a good space.”
The development also includes a wheelchair lift and deck reconstruction, and would increase the capacity from 140 to 220 persons.
“(We want to) make a beautiful building and a living. We’ve been here for 25 years, and contributed dramatically in a number of ways to the local community. We employ 100 people,” he said.
“We’re putting a s***load of money on the line, it’s a long ongoing process.”
The 2018 development proposal was to increase the floorspace by 194m2 to 734m2 by building outwards – rather than up.
However, it was withdrawn after a planning panel ruled its owners needed to provide “more evidence” it would meet usage and environmental criteria.
Late last year, a law firm working on behalf of Sydney Seaplanes presented concerns about the impacts of construction and aviation zoning requirements.
“The proposal has been significantly amended from the earlier proposal by limiting the footprint to the existing one by adding additional floor space in the form of an extra storey over the existing structure,” the development proposal reads.
It adds: “The proposed additions and alterations are adequately separated from the nearby Sydney Seaplanes facility to ensure that the marine aviation activities can operate without any conflict.”
“The applicant is mindful of the potential impacts of building works on the uses surrounding the subject site, particularly Sydney Seaplanes.”
It states the work will be carried out in the less busy winter months.
There have already been some recent renovations completed included rebuilding of the kitchen, redoing the dining room and rewiring the whole building.
Mr McMahon said excluding these recent renovations and other small works in the 1990s, the restaurant hasn’t had a major refit since 1957.
“It’s a really nice development. It would make the area a whole lot better,” he said.
“We’ve drifted into a money abyss. My wife and I are putting our money into it. Banks don’t lend you money for restaurants.
“We’ve weathered the storm, we’ve been doing it for 40 years, we do everything properly, and everyone gets paid properly,” he said.
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