Hotel plans should not be at neighbours' expense

As a long-time resident and owner of a block of land adjacent to the Patonga Hotel and fish shop, I read with interest Andrew Smith's defence of his redevelopment plans.

Mr Smith claims he merely wishes to improve services for clients and is prepared to spend $2,223,050 to achieve this result.

Mr Smith is entitled to improve his investment and make it more attractive but this should not be at the expense of neighbours who already suffer from issues created by the hotel.

Noise problems associated with entertainment, patrons and machinery (fans, ice makers, air conditioners) have been causing many sleepless nights for residents.

Mr Smith, who owns a construction business and has done work for Gosford Council, does not live in Patonga and will not be affected by the noise, odour and parking problems which Patonga experiences.

No one can avoid the traffic flow of the one road to Patonga Village caused by the hotel and many residents feel the hotel and fish shop is already grossly over developed for the tiny fishing village.

Originally the hotel (in those days a tavern) was presented by Gosford Council as a small tavern for permanent residents to socialise, and for the Caravan Park to provide for its clients in the holiday season.

Mr Smith has admitted that most of his patrons come from Sydney.

The tavern was meant to be small and a condition of consent was to retain the heritage store and residential flat on the original site, both of which have been destroyed.

Amazingly, this block contains seven residential allotments surrounding the hotel and they all existed long before it.

The hotel and shop have already increased by stealth.

The residential blocks are zoned R2 low density residential and this is a stated objective of the zone: 'To ensure that non-residential land uses do not adversely affect residential amenity or place demands on services beyond a level reasonable for low density housing.

Mr Smith states that there will be little or no noise impact on the community (from internal development).

The current licence states no amplified music or similar entertainment is permitted from 10pm to midnight Monday to Thursday except New Year's Eve.

But what about Friday, Saturday and Sunday?

Also, it is permitted to have windows and doors open till 10pm which drastically affects residents who have to travel for work who go to bed early and rise early.

The topography of Patonga does not suit a venue like the hotel either with mountains curving to naturally amplify noise, this further escalates the problems facing residents.

Furthermore, the licence also states that entertainment can only be conducted within the enclosed building.

There has been entertainment in the beer garden.

Mr Smith stated that parking issues would be addressed by council and its associated costs to be determined through council.

Obviously Mr Smith is hoping for public land, but the new council should be aware that the Lapwing Plover which utilises most of the scrubland in Patonga for breeding, is protected under the National Parks and Wildlife Act.

The hotel has already been visited by and found guilty of violating their noise limit by the Department of Liquor, Gaming and Racing.

Letter, 15 May 2016

June Coates, Patonga