‘Smoke complaint’ forces Balmain pub to shut down courtyard barbecue
Balmain’s Welcome Hotel has been told to close its courtyard barbeques after a local resident complained about the smoke.
The heritage pub could be fined up to $8000 by council inspectors if it is caught firing up the barbeque because the smoke “had the potential to negatively impact the amenity of neighbouring premises and the environment”.
The Inner West Council estimates the smoke was visible 50m away, saying “blue smoke, fumes and cooking smells were observed when the barbecue was located in the open shed”.
The pub was first put on notice from council rangers in January, forcing it to cut down the hours the charcoal grill was used and to stop cooking fish on it.
It was then served a “Prevention Notice” which included a $550 fine and threats of $8000 fines for each day the offence continues.
Pub owner Liam O’Keefe says he is fed up with “this over the top red tape and regulations”.
Speaking to the Daily telegraph, he said “it’s not like I’m burning rubber tyres”.
“Who doesn’t love a barbecue? When you’re born in this country you’ve got to love a BBQ, don’t you?” he said.
However, Inner West Council mayor Darcy Byrne has come to his defence, saying the situation was “nonsensical”.
“It seems pretty nonsensical for a pub that has existed since more than a century ago to be threatened with fines over cooking food on the weekend,” Byrne said.
“The culture of complaint that has developed in governments in Sydney is completely out of keeping with what the general population wants.”
Sheridan Randall, 11th April 2019
