A popular Irish pub in West Leederville has failed in its bid to transform a car park into a sprawling new beer garden. On Thursday, members of the Metro Inner Development Assessment Panel (DAP) unanimously voted to reject a building proposal from JB O’Reilly's.
Proposal Details
The $2.5 million application from the pub's operators sought to extend its beer garden into the existing car park, which would have more than doubled the Irish tavern's patron capacity from 278 to 570 people. Under the proposal, all 18 on-site customer bays would be removed and replaced with additional hospitality space, leaving just one staff bay retained at neighbouring 17 Kerr Street.
Conditions Proposed by Town of Cambridge
The Town of Cambridge had proposed some operating conditions, should the development application be approved, including stricter conditions on patron limits, noise management, pick-up and drop-off zones, acoustic monitoring and limiting outdoor operations after 10pm. However, the additions were not enough to sway decision-makers.
Panel Decision
The DAP panel members, including Cambridge mayor Gary Mack and councillor Kate Barlow, decided against the application 5-0. Ms Barlow said that it had a reputation of being a 'drunken environment', and increasing the capacity would only further these issues. 'Increasing the capacity of JB O’Reilly's... will inevitably base an increase of foot traffic, vehicle traffic and noise.... exacerbating the issues of antisocial behaviour in the residential community,' he said.
JB O’Reilly has been contacted for comment.
