COUNCIL is being dragged into the battle between pubs and nightclubs in Northbridge, says Councillor Bert Tudori.
Council was considering whether it would support a request from the Aberdeen Hotel for extended trading hours.
Council staff recommended a request for parts of the hotel to be allowed to remain open until 3:00am on Thursday, Saturday and Sunday mornings be refused.
That view eventually held sway.
Mr Tudori said it was not council’s role to “protect the profits of nightclubs”.
“We shouldn’t be taking sides in this. As long as this request complies with the health and planning regulations, we should have no further role.”
Council staff tendered several complaints about noise from the hotel and a report from the WA Police Service as their main reasons for proposing refusal.
However, two complaints dated back to 1997 and the buildings concerned had since been demolished to make way for the Graham Farmer Freeway.
Council staff were unsure whether remaining complaints were from Northbridge residents or businesses.
Councillor Laurance Goodman said there was conflict in the area now because new apartment complexes had been built nearby.
“However, if the hotel makes too much noise, council has ways of making them stop. We can take them to court if necessary,” Mr Goodman said.
Councillor Jennifer MacGill said there were now a number of stakeholders in Northbridge.
“They should get together and work out what they want in Northbridge,” Mrs MacGill said.
Councillor Tess Stroud said allowing the hotel to stay open to midnight allowed plenty of time to “drink and have fun”.
The final decision on the licence extension rests with the Director of Liquor Licencing.
