Concerns about plans to also add an upstairs balcony to parts of the Guinea and Olive streets and build a deck on the northern end of the pub were also raised during a well attended community forum held by Albury Council on Monday night.

Forty-year nearby resident Steve Judd and recent addition to the neighbourhood, Tony Green, were among four registered speakers at the forum.

The large gallery heard the Star’s plans were similar to developments which had taken place at another popular central Albury watering hole, Brady’s Railway Hotel.

“Whether we have been there for a long time or just moved in, the Star Hotel is a fact of life,” Mr Judd said.

“None of the locals I’ve spoken to expect or want the hotel to go away, however no one I’ve spoken to is in favour of the intensification of the use of the hotel or proposed additions.”

The proposed upstairs function centre, which will replace existing accommodation rooms, will operate 10am to midnight on Monday to Saturday and 10am to 10pm on Sunday.

The northern end deck will be available for use between 10am and 9pm every day and balconies over Guinea and Olive streets will be open 10am to 11pm Monday to Saturday and 10am to 10pm on Sundays.

Mr Green said anyone was welcome to stand in his frontyard and experience the impact he felt the proposed developments would have on his property.

“One of the biggest issues that got people up in arms was what we feel is a complete lack of transparency of the process,” he said.

“If the function centre is to be successful and have a return of investment there is going to be a significant amount of bus traffic.”

The development application is expected to be presented to Albury Council this month.

The Star Hotel operators didn’t take up the chance to speak at the forum and tendered a written submission from planning consultant James Laycock.

“Given the driver to strengthen the Star Hotel’s business operations (is) increasing competition from licenced clubs the need to diversify the hotel’s service offering was seen as a business opportunity which needed to be explored,” Mr Laycock said.

“This opportunity is in the context of the long-standing knowledge that Albury-Wodonga is a strong regional and national destination for conferences and events which are of course actively marketed by the Albury Northside Chamber of Commerce and Albury Council among other tourism and economic development agencies.”