Box Hill: Sky One karaoke bar proposal raises concern
The tallest building outside Melbourne’s CBD — home to more than 400 apartments — could soon get a singing lounge where punters can party and drink until 5am. But it will have to get past a public vote first.
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A proposal for a karaoke bar in a Box Hill high-rise, which could open as late as 5am, has neighbours fearing late-night noise and anti-social behaviour.
Plans for Ocean 13 Club have surfaced with the Victorian Electoral Commission announcing people living around 36-storey Sky One must vote on whether they approve of a “late night” liquor licence being granted for the venue, which will be on level two of the building.
Whitehorse Councillor Blair Barker said the proposed venue was a karaoke bar, and that an initial briefing to the council suggested the owner was seeking to entertain patrons until 5am.
Cr Barker said he had spoken “extensively” with many concerned neighbours.
He said they’re worried about noise and the type of behaviour that could come from people drinking until 5am.
Laura Heyning, who has lived in Box Hill for 15 years, said the proposal didn’t sound suitable for the suburb because there wasn’t distinct separation between residential and commercial spaces like in other parts of Melbourne.
“The mix of residential and commercial is too great,” she said.
The building proposed to host the karaoke bar — Sky One — is predominantly an apartment building, many with people already calling it home.
Whether the Victorian Commission for Gambling and Liquor Regulation grants a liquor licence to Ocean 13 Club will be influenced by the poll of people living within a certain radius of 545 Station St, Box Hill.
People living in the designated voting area must submit their postal vote before September 4, or risk facing a fine, in line with the state’s Dry Laws.
For decades these laws have enabled people in parts of Whitehorse and Boroondara to stop clubs and pubs opening in their suburbs.
But the vote on Ocean 13 Club could be one of the last times these laws are used, with Premier Daniel Andrews having vowed to get rid of them if he was re-elected last November.
Indeed, some neighbours are wondering why a vote is taking place in Box Hill in 2019, under an Andrews Government.
Government spokesman Nathan Motton said proposed legislation to remove the laws, which would “reduce costs and time delays in the licence application process”, was expected to go before parliament in 2020.
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Cr Barker said people were happy about the delay in changing the laws, and were “genuinely really disappointed” the Andrews Government vowed to scrap the laws without consulting Whitehorse or Boroondara residents.
He said people were very pleased to be able to vote on the karaoke bar.
“Local people want a say on these things,” he said.
“The community has made it very clear to me.”
He has requested Whitehorse Council receive further information about the club’s plans.