Huskisson Hotel owner Steve Bartlett’s bar extension plans slammed by NSW Police, residents

A pub owner’s bid to increase live music and bar operations into the early hours has been slammed by NSW Police and residents alike, who say doing so would lead to intoxicated undesirables causing havoc in the south coast town.

Steve Bartlett wants to extend Huskisson Hotel's bar operations.

A controversial proposal for a popular south coast pub’s bar to operate into the early hours has been slammed by police, who say such a plan would result in major anti-social behaviour from intoxicated undesirables in the town.

Huskisson Hotel’s plan to see the waterfront bar operate until 1am on Fridays and Saturdays and 12am across the rest of the week currently sits with the Shoalhaven Council.

NSW Police after strongly against the proposal with South Coast Police District licensing officer Angus McMillan highlighting this in a submission to council.

“This proposal will increase late night patronage being on the street with increased level of intoxication and limited means of transportation from the area,” he said.

Mr McMillan said the bar remaining open until 1am would “undoubtedly result in an increase of noise disturbance for residential areas”.

Fed up residents agreed with Mr McMillan’s assessment, claiming noise pollution from the pub was already an issue and extending the bar’s operating hours would only worsen the problem.

Huskisson Hotel owner, Steve Bartlett.

Resident Scott Davis said he and his wife had lived near the Huskisson Hotel for some time and said they already dealt with loud music.

“The application to extend the hotel’s hours to allow live music until 1am on Friday and Saturday and midnight throughout the week would be extremely disruptive to our lives,” he said.

“We should be allowed to reside in our homes without being impacted by the continuous hammering sound every weekend.

“The sound makes it impossible to relax and sleep in our homes.”

Huskisson resident Helen Crittle claimed the pub was already being investigated after previous noise complaints.

“[The pub] has been in breach of their operating hours and playing of loud music since June last year, up until about 10 weeks ago when Liquor and Gaming stepped in and met with the hotel management stipulating they must close and cease music to comply with their development conditions,” she submitted.

Huskisson Hotel's waterfront bar.

NSW Police confirmed complaints regarding disturbances were being investigated.

Currently, the waterfront bar and live music ceases at 11.30pm, with Huskisson Hotel owner Steve Bartlett telling this publication the rest of the hotel remains open until 1am.

He said the plan was to bring the bar in line with the hotel’s overall closing time.

Mr Bartlett also claimed police were against the plan due to staffing issues.

“The police in the Shoalhaven are under a lot of pressure to provide support for the community 24/7,” he said.

NSW Police and some residents are against the plans.

The 25-year-long pub owner also said noise pollution claims were an “absolute lie”, saying the hotel abided by noise level conditions.

“We have noise monitors that we’ve had to put in due to these complaints to make sure we’re not too loud,” he said.

Mr Bartlett said the NSW Police concern regarding intoxicated undesirables wreaking havoc would be maintained by the eight security guards the pub currently employs.

“We get negative reviews online from intoxicated people who we refused entry to,” he said.

“We’re aware of our obligations and work extremely hard to keep everyone happy and safe.”

Shoalhaven Council will discuss the modification to operations on Tuesday.

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Originally published as Huskisson Hotel owner Steve Bartlett’s bar extension plans slammed by NSW Police, residents