Box Hill: Golden Age put a cork in Sky One late-night karaoke bar plan

The controversial plan for a late-night karaoke bar in the centre of ‘dry’ Box Hill has been scrapped ‘at the eleventh hour’. The move follows public uproar over the proposal.

Golden Age has withdrawn its application for a karaoke bar in Sky One.

A controversial plan for a late-night karaoke bar in a Box Hill high-rise has been scrapped after Whitehorse Leader broke the story, prompting public outrage.

Developer Golden Age pulled the pin on its application for a permit for Ocean 13 Club just before Whitehorse Council was to begin advertising the plans.

Councillor Blair Barker said the council was about to send about 2800 letters to nearby properties, notifying people a permit was being sought for a bar on Level 2 of the new Sky One building. The letters were to have been sent on Monday afternoon but the application was withdrawn “at the eleventh hour”.

The karaoke bar was planned for Level 2 of Sky One.

The council’s general manager city development, Jeff Green, said no reason was provided for the withdrawal of the proposal.

It came just two days before the VEC’s poll on whether nearby residents approved of a late-night liquor licence for the venue was due to close.

The poll, which started on August 13, required almost 1280 people living around 545 Station St, Box Hill, to vote by September 4 or risk facing a fine, in line with the state’s Dry Laws, which are unique to parts of Whitehorse and Boroondara.

Golden Age’s decision to withdraw the application for the bar follows backlash over the proposal, with Box Hill residents fearing anti-social behaviour and noise with plans for the bar to be open until 5am.

Phil Ward says he wasn't told Sky One might eventually host a nightclub when he bought one of its apartments. Picture: Andy Brownbill

Box Hill’s Phil Ward, who plans to spend his retirement living in the building, said was given no indication an entertainment venue would be considered for Sky One when he bought his apartment off the plan two-and-a-half years ago.

Other soon-to-be Sky One residents were also appalled they were excluded from the vote on the venue’s liquor licence, with VEC laws requiring them to have lived at the address for a month prior to July 5.

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Mr Ward said he received a call from Sky One’s developer Golden Age on Tuesday morning informing him the karaoke bar would not be going ahead.

Mr Green said Golden Age could refile the request for the bar’s permit, which would be considered a fresh application.

Golden Age did not respond to requests for comment.