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Residents\u2019 groups will often go to great lengths to try to stop a development from cropping up in their neighbourhood, but this may be a first.<\/p>\n
A community organisation has hired a private investigator to collect video evidence from Melbourne\u2019s pubs in their efforts to block the Middle Park Hotel\u2019s owners from building a new rooftop bar.<\/p>\n
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Residents are objecting to a proposed rooftop bar at the Middle Park Hotel. <\/span>Credit: <\/span>Joe Armao<\/cite><\/p>\n Bodycam footage recorded at establishments owned by pub conglomerate Australian Venue Co was shown in the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal last week as part of a tense battle between the company and Middle Park residents.<\/p>\n Australian Venue Co is pushing ahead with plans to increase the three-storey Victorian era hotel\u2019s capacity by 200 people, introduce seven-day operating hours until 1am and install a new floating terrace to host DJs.<\/p>\n About 1900 people have signed a petition opposing changes to the 134-year-old venue, with residents raising $200,000 to take the fight as far as they can. They claim it will turn a quiet neighbourhood village that is home to families and the elderly into a magnet for anti-social behaviour linked to heavy drinking.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re not anti-St Kilda, we go there,\u201d Preserving Middle Park Village president Adrian King told the VCAT hearing. \u201cBut we don\u2019t wish to become another St Kilda.\u201d<\/p>\n Residents hired a private investigator to show behaviour at Australian Venue Co pubs.<\/span>Credit: <\/span>Rivica<\/cite><\/p>\n The footage from Australian Venue Co\u2019s other pubs is intended to show that Middle Park Hotel will not be a family-friendly \u201cfood-led concept\u201d as claimed, but instead a boozy venue that will create excessive noise.<\/p>\n \u201cDuring the time we conducted surveillance at a number of premises, we didn\u2019t see any families, no children, no dining taking place,\u201d private investigator Richard James told The Sunday Age<\/em>.<\/p>\n Golding\u2019s view.<\/span>Credit: <\/span>Matt Golding<\/cite><\/p>\n James, whose career has included a stint at the Office of Police Integrity, said he was hired to observe pubs that were similar to the proposal for the Middle Park Hotel rooftop.<\/p>\n He said the aim was to show the age of patrons, whether music was being played and how the tables were set up. He said a decibel reader was also used.<\/p>\n \u201cThis might be the first time that any audiovisual evidence has been used like this,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n The footage was recorded on a Friday night in April between 9pm and midnight at venues in Richmond, Abbotsford and Fitzroy.<\/p>\n In addition to the Middle Park Hotel proposal, residents have also expressed concern about the recent approval of a Dan Murphy\u2019s liquor outlet just across from the pub on Armstrong Street.<\/p>\n The outlet has been given a council permit but is still waiting on a liquor licence.<\/p>\n A screen grab of footage recorded by a private investigator inside Australian Venue Co pubs.<\/span>Credit: <\/span>Rivica<\/cite><\/p>\n During his submission, King raised issues about parking in Middle Park and a potential problem with public urination. As well as the footage from the private investigator, he said there was video evidence of people urinating outside the Espy.<\/p>\n \u201cWe simply do not believe [Australian Venue Co],\u201d King told the hearing. \u201cIt\u2019s not about the food.\u201d<\/p>\n A spokesperson for Australian Venue Co did not address residents\u2019 concerns or the use of cameras inside their venues.<\/p>\n \u201cThe application for a rooftop is currently subject to the continuation of a VCAT hearing,\u201d they said. \u201cWe will await the outcome of that hearing.\u201d<\/p>\n The Middle Park Hotel.<\/span>Credit: <\/span>Joe Armao<\/cite><\/p>\n The hospitality giant lodged plans with the City of Port Phillip in late 2021. A decision was due in the middle of 2022 but was taken to VCAT after the council failed to decide on granting a permit.<\/p>\n At a meeting, councillors agreed on a position to take to VCAT that would restrict the proposed rooftop deck\u2019s trading hours to 9pm during the week and 10pm on weekends, with no live music allowed at any time.<\/p>\n The tribunal hearing was due to be completed over four days last week, but will not finish until next year due to the length of the submissions and evidence given so far.<\/p>\n It is being heard by VCAT senior member Philip Martin and member Phil West, who recently approved a beer garden at the Terminus Hotel in North Fitzroy amid community objections.<\/p>\n Start the day with a summary of the day\u2019s most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter.<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n<\/p>\n
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