Mod 3 - Commercial Conversion

Donna Baguley
50 Laman Street
Cooks Hill
NSW 2300
15th January, 2018

Re
Honeysuckle Hotel, Lee Wharf C (Modification 3)
MP 05_0007 MOD 3

Objection to the proposal

There are two parts to the proposed modification
* Install balustrading and additional outdoor dining area to the existing northern deck
* Extend trading hours of the outdoor deck area
I object in particular to the extension of the trading hours. This Hotel is in a highly residential area and the addition of extra space for patrons as well as the increase in trading hours will make for the venue to be a very noisy area. The Hotel is literally on the water and the additional open-air deck will only increase the noise emitted from this entertainment venue. I own a property at 105/7 Honeysuckle Drive, Newcastle, which p approximately 20 metres from the Honeysuckle Hotel and the tenants have a right to "reasonable peace, comfort and privacy". The increase of trading hours on the outdoor deck area would certainly reduce this residential right.
I have not made any reportable political donations in the previous two years.

Yours sincerely



Donna Baguley

Patrons leaving hotel later at night .noise at taxi ranks and thru the neighbourhood.

I object to the extension of hours of operation of the Honeysuckle Hotel Lee Wharf C
We have invested in 2 apartments in the immediate vicinity of this development. When we purchased our apartments we were assured that the Honey Suckle Hotel would be a restricted hours facility that would be family friendly and not a noisy late night venue. We believe with the growing residential density that an extension of hours of operation, particularly the outside space will detract from the amenity of this area. I have consulted with my tenants and they are concerned as already there is undue noise around the public parking spaces at hotel closing and conduct of intoxicated Hotel goers is already an issue ( urinating at the entrance to our car park security gate and excessive noise).We believe that the extension of hours will lead to further anti social behaviour and this is not conducive to attracting residential occupancy in this precinct.
We do not object to further outside space being created but strongly object to extension of hours.
Thankyou for considering this submission.

I wish to make a submission Opposing the request for the creation of an additional outdoor dinning area and any Extension of trading hours for the outdoor dinning area at the Honeysuckle Hotel.

There are already several hundred residents living in very close proximity to the Honeysuckle Hotel and a number of additional residential apartment buildings have been approved for construction in the same area!


The existing outdoor dining area is already emitting very loud crowd noises despite the claim by the previous owners that an "acoustic wall" constructed would significantly reduce any noise from the existing outdoor area.

So any extension of the dining area to the northern deck will see many additional patrons sitting outdoors and emitting significantly more noise and this would be a further disturbance for residents. Then to extend the operating hours of the new and existing outdoor areas will make it almost an unbearable noise increase continuing for much later at night every day of the week !

Please no further extension of outdoor premises and hours which will only create a huge noise impact for residents living in the Honeysuckle precinct !

I do NOT agree with the extended hours but I am happy to support the additional dining area. The key reason for the objection is the noise impact of additional trading hours on the local residents (of which I am one). We are able to survive the noise currently as we understand that we live in the entertainment area but there needs to be a balance. At the current closing time we regularly get loud and drunken people interrupting our sleep. Extending the hours is just "creep" and will have an ongoing impact on our sleep. If this is to be approved then a suggestion for approval consent conditions is for the Honeysuckle to engage with the Police and have them attend the area to "move on" noisy people on a regular and ongoing basis

We do not support for use of Public Access walkway for seating or the
extended external trading hours. The original Hotel approval allowed
for a max. of 150 patrons, that was subsequently increase and now the
applicant wants a bulk increase of 96 seats. There is nothing in the
application that limits the number of patrons allowed in this proposed
Hotel "extension" area, standing or seated, only the number of seats.
To use the designated access, pedestrians will need to traverse
between Hotel patrons under the existing shade structure and Hotel
patrons in the proposed seating on the waters edge and this is not
acceptable. I also note that the applicant has chosen the prime waters
edge area for the proposed seating instead of the area adjoining their
existing outdoor seating area. The application states that "outdoor
dining to be closed at 12am". I visited the Hotel this week at 9.30pm
and enquired about a meal only to be told that the kitchen was closed.
So much for dining until 12am, more like drinking. With an approval
for this application together with the existing outdoor area there
would be a capacity for at least 250 patrons to be drinking externally
of the Hotel walls and this is not acceptable for the general public
let alone neighbouring residents. Additional public space given over
to private interests is once again not acceptable.

My wife and I are TOTALLY OPPOSED to the proposed Modification Request -
Honeysuckle Hotel, Lee Wharf Building C, Newcastle. It is
inappropriate for the following reasons: 1.The hotel occupies an
attractive building on Lee Wharf bookended by the Maritime Museum. The
proposal would destroy the visual beauty of Lee Wharf and ruin the
integrity of the historic wharf precinct. 2,Proposed new balustrading
and outdoor dining area on the northern deck would significantly raise
the noise level (unless enclosed). Outdoor trading should be minimised
where the area is shared by residents. 3.The proposal to extend
trading hours is grossly unfair to the residents of hundreds of
apartments overlooking the harbour who would bear the inconvenience of
drunk and disorderly patrons leaving the hotel at the intended
extended late hours. Believe me, the rowdy behaviour of people leaving
the Honeysuckle Hotel is an unpleasant reality we live with but do not
want it extended! 4.The Hunter Development Corporation has developed a
sympathetic mix of beautiful residential / commercial buildings along
the waterfront at Honeysuckle Drive. Lee Wharf is a family friendly
gathering place which attracts locals and tourists by day and night.
Lee Wharf already has several licensed premises and cafes, all of whom
seemingly trade successfully within the current laws. Any change would
entirely change the character of the precinct.

Please see below my objection to the Modification Request Application
Number MP 05_0007 MOD 3. I am a resident at 7 Honeysuckle Drive and
will be adversely affected by any changes to the currently approved
activities at the Honeysuckle Hotel. The additional outdoor dining
will result in noise levels being increased. The Acoustical Assessment
is flawed because the noise monitoring was done over a limited,
off-season timeframe and in locations that are not sufficiently
defined or in locations that are not those closest to the residential
sites that would be most affected by the proposed modification. The
patron noise assessment projections are incorrect as they assume 96
additional patrons speaking with a `normal voice' dBA level, whereas
patrons will be using `loud' or `shouting' voice dBA levels, to be
heard over any music being played at the venue and other patrons,
especially as the patrons become more intoxicated. The first
recommendation listed in the Acoustical Assessment (no amplified
music) is insufficiently specific as amplified music is already coming
from within the hotel on some occasions. The third recommendation
listed in the Acoustical Assessment (reminder sign) will not be heeded
by patrons who are most likely to cause noise and disturbance at any
time, especially late at night, and who tend to congregate outside the
venue. The `general operating hours' listed on the Honeysuckle Hotel
website are : Mon - Thu 10am - 11pm, Fri - Sat 10am - 12:30am and
Sunday 10am - 10pm. The currently approved trading hours for the
existing outside dining area are not listed. The trading hours for the
outside deck area should be limited to : Mon - Thu 10am - 10pm, Fri -
Sat 10am - 11:30pm and Sunday 10am - 9pm. The existing northern deck
should be maintained for public access, rather than developed for
additional outdoor dining. The existing outdoor deck provides a clear
safety exit from the premises, and as such would be obstructed by the
installation of an additional dining area. A key issue, not addressed
in any of the supporting documents, is the issue of `moving on' noisy,
generally intoxicated, patrons exiting the Honeysuckle Hotel, after
the official closing times. This issue should be addressed as a matter
of priority. Whilst it is illegal to serve alcohol to intoxicated
patrons, we are often disturbed on Friday and Saturday nights, by loud
voices from intoxicated patrons exiting the Honeysuckle Hotel. This is
not only a noise issue for local residents, but represents a security
issue.

I strongly oppose the modification request (MP 05_0007 MOD 3) for
Honeysuckle Hotel, Lee Wharf Building C. Extension of the northern
desk would significantly reduce the public access to the walkway
around the Hotel. As a resident of Honeysuckle Drive for over five
years, I can report that existing public seating in the area is under
utilised and there is little public benefit for adding more chairs and
tables to the deck beyond profits for the Honeysuckle Hotel. The
Honeysuckle Hotel currently generates significant noise. This is
generated from its regular live music, patrons in the outdoor areas
and from patrons exiting at the end of the night. Extending the
trading hours of the outdoor deck area would cause a significant
nuisance to residents of Honeysuckle Drive. Residents would be exposed
to longer and later periods of outside noise from patrons. Residents
would also be exposed to more patron noise from Hotel patrons walking
to and from the Hotel. It is common event to observe patrons leaving
the Honeysuckle Hotel generating significant noise (talking, laughing,
shouting and screaming) and other anti-social behaviours (e.g.
urinating in boat sculpture in Worth Place Park) with the current
indoor operating hours. Typically this is in short bursts of excessive
noise at late hours. The current operation of moving outside patrons
into the inner Hotel early in the evening helps to reduce late night
nuisance to residents. Extending the trading hours of the outdoor deck
area would encourage Hotel patrons to spend longer outside and thus
generate more outside noise. The later hours would generate greater
nuisance noise as the ambient sounds in the area are reduced at night
and the sound of patrons on the deck area would travel. I see no
public benefit for extending the outside hours and only more nuisance
noise to residents. Thus I object to the proposal.

We have no objection to the amendments provided the extended trading
hours and changes to the outdoor seating relate only to the northern
deck area of the hotel. The hotel has in fact 2 deck areas one
northern and one southern. If the hotel were to be allowed to extend
the seating and trading hours on the southern deck this would have a
significantly deleterious impact on the nearby residences. If this is
what is sought we would strenuously object.

With regards to the Modification request for Honeysuckle Hotel - Planik
Pty Ltd MP05_0007MOD3 I just wanted to submit the following comment: I
come from a small business background and appreciate and understand
that the Honeysuckle Hotel may need to extend their opening hours in
order to make their business a viable and prosperous one. I also know
that owning a small business requires one to put in long hours. My
average working week is 60-70 hours. It does mean that as selfish as
this may sound, I also value sleep. I don't foresee that the
additional outdoor dining area extended trading hours will necessarily
be an issue. Honeysuckle Hotel should do a brisk trade from this
improved outdoor dining area during existing opening hours. The issue
is with what happens after patrons leave the venue. Even if patrons
are not inebriated, their banter as they congregate to say their
farewells outside the venue, then slowly walk to the car park, train
station, taxi rank or where ever... carries up to apartments. Even
with every double glazed window closed you can hear their
conversations clearly. It usually takes half an hour to an hour after
close of business for the noise level to drop. If patrons are
inebriated you can treble the noise level. Banter and farewells turn
into swearing, taunts, dares and fights. It takes these people much
longer to move on. They can also be quite destructive to the property
of commercial businesses and residents alike. I note that the extended
opening hours are 'on a trial basis'. I am yet to discover how long
the trial goes for but perhaps this trial will be the fairest way to
assess exactly what the ramifications will be to longer opening hours.
I suspect I know the outcome: once the extended hours are granted,
they will not be altered and inebriated characters screaming and
yelling at each other as they find their way home along the
Honeysuckle foreshore precinct will exist beyond midnight 7 days a
week. I'd prefer the trading hours to remain as they are.