Albury Council votes 5-2 against Star Hotel development application to create upstairs function centre and balcony areas

A staff recommendation to approve a development application for an upstairs function room and balcony areas was voted down 5-2 with only Cr Henk van de Ven and mayor Kevin Mack in favour.

Cr David Thurley led the charge against opposing the development and said the decision by the proponent or their planning consultant not to speak at a community forum two months ago had driven a wedge between themselves and residents who opposed the development due to concerns about increase noise and traffic around the central Albury pub.

“In my opinion the original DA was vague and even disingenuous,” he said.

“This is not working with the community to achieve a development that everyone can live with.”

Cr Alice Glachan also opposed the development application because of her experience of living near another licenced premises in central Albury – the SS&A Club.

“They have conditions have applied to them and have to close outdoor areas by certain times and can’t play amplified music,” she said.

“They continually have people in those outdoor areas after the times they are meant to and continually have rowdy patrons and those patrons disturb me and my family and other people who live in the vicinity of where we live.

“It is a very difficult and onerous process to raise noise complaints.

“If this development is approved then this establishment (the Star Hotel) will change.

“All of those people in all of those houses in that vicinity will be subjected to an altered establishment.”

Cr van de Ven said everything had been done to accommodate the issues raised by residents.

“The hotel has been part of the streetscape and fabric of that area for a long time,” he said.

“The conditions of consent have to a majority extent satisfied in my mind the issues that have been raised.”

Deputy mayor Amanda Cohn, Cr Graham Docksey and Cr John Stuchbery also voted against with Cr Murray King declaring a conflict of interest as a neighbouring property owner.

General manager Frank Zaknich also left the chamber during the debate as he is also a property owner in the area.

An alternative motion put forward by Cr Thurley asking the proponent to re-design the application with emphasis on the management of the balcony and deck areas with reference to overlooking into adjoining properties, noise levels, hours of use and persons allowed in these spaces was successful.

He said he was in favour of the Star Hotel finding a use for the upstairs area of the pub.

“What I’m not in favour of is disturbing the residential amenity which exists in this area,” he said.

“They have co-existed for many, many years and I believe there is a way to carry out this development in sympathy with the local residents and local community.

“This could have been achieved with better goodwill and co-operation between planner, council and local residents.”

But Cr Cohn voted against both motions despite acknowledging the efforts the proponent put into addressing the residents complaints.

Her opposition related to the pub’s proximity to a women’s health and wellness centre.

“Given that my primary concern is the perception of being overlooked at the sensitive site across the road in Guinea Street, I don’t think any management plan for the balcony is going to solve that problem,” she said.

Cr John Stuchbery said it was a difficult issue due to the pub’s history on the site.

“The building’s function is going to be somewhat altered by this DA and therefore one can have sympathy for the residents,” he said.

Cr Darren Cameron was an apology for the meeting.