Panel: ‘more evidence’ needed on Catalina expansion

A $5.2 million plan to expand Rose Bay’s famous Catalina restaurant is still in limbo, after a planning panel today ruled its owners needed to provide ‘more evidence’ it will meet usage and environmental criteria.

Plans for restaurant Catalina at Rose Bay

• Catalina calms fears over restaurant plan
• Debate over plan for school in bus depot
• Elite school’s $45m masterplan

Catalina owner Michael McMahon today spoke of a “very difficult” process in securing a $5.2 million expansion that would double the capacity of the famous Rose Bay restaurant.

Addressing the Woollahra Local Planning Panel on Wednesday, Mr McMahon said the hearing was the “light at the end of the tunnel” for a project that had not been without its detractors.

But after deliberating for more than an hour the panel deferred its decision, with chair Annelise Tuor declaring it required “further evidence” before it could rule on the application.

The proposed expanded Catalina at Rose Bay.

How it looks now when viewed from Sydney Seaplanes.

Ms Tuor said the proponents needed to address concerns over whether the expansion met the Lyne Park site’s existing use rights and environmental regulations via a submission to Woollahra Council before April 1, 2019, otherwise plans would be determined on the existing documents.

Opponents had raised fears over traffic and view losses from the park, while Catalina came into conflict with neighbours Sydney Seaplanes about the potential impact construction could have on aircraft.

Sydney Seaplanes director Ken Gaunt said he was “fully supportive” of the proposal when addressing the panel, but was hoping his business could have more input in planning construction.

Mr Gaunt was also worried barges floating in the water during construction could interfere with planes taking off and landing

Catalina now.

How it would look.

“It’s just the operation of our vehicles during the construction phase (that concerns me),” he said.

“I’m sure we will get there. We are working through this.”

Mr Gaunt also flagged concerns that the laneway shared by Catalina and his business could become inaccessible during works on the upgrade.

Plans for the upgraded restaurant include increasing capacity from 94 customers to 200.

It requested approval for internal and external modifications including extending the building at its eastern and western points, with a two-storey addition including staff spaces, a private dining area and storage. A new bar area, two rooftop gardens, and accessible lift and new signage were also included.

Mr McMahon said the kitchen that was built in 1957 had become “tired and worn”, arguing it was important that the “icon of the municipality, NSW and internationally” be renovated.

Bold new signage is included in the plans.

“As any successful restaurant must do, it has to over the years be adjusted and rebuilt for various reasons,” he said.

“Basically what we are applying for is a continuation of that process, which is an improvement of that site for the improvement of services to the community.

“As it stands the restaurant hasn’t changed for over a decade, and has become a little bit tired and a bit worn”.

IN OTHER NEWS

Mr McMahon said the restaurant also didn’t meet fire exit criteria and was not currently accessible to people in a wheelchair or had an accessible bathroom on site.

“The approval part has been an extremely long and difficult process,” he said. “Hopefully you will support what we are trying to do … and we can see the light at the end of the tunnel in what’s become a really, really difficult situation.”

But ultimately the panel was not yet convinced.