Geelong pub battles NIMBY residents over noise complaints

A historic pub in the heart of Geelong is in danger of having its beer garden shut down over noise complaints from residents of a nearby apartment complex. 

The Deck, which was first licensed in 1855 and opened its beer garden some two decades before the neighbouring apartment complex was constructed, is fighting back though, saying the blame lies with the council for greenlighting the residential project.

The City of Greater Geelong has lodged an enforcement order application to force the venue to close its beer garden and stop the playing of amplified music outdoors. 

The owner of the pub, company director George Zurcas, described the council’s actions as “beyond a joke”.

“The council’s crucifying us trying to shut down the key part of the business,” he said.

In an ironic twist, a former owner of the hotel is leading the complaints from residents of the neighbouring apartment complex , saying they have had their peace “shattered” between 9pm and nearly 3am several nights a week. 

“They say the venue is effectively running an ‘outdoor nightclub’ with questions arising about the validity to operate in the area immediately adjacent to residential dwellings,” Paul Brady told the Geelong Advertiser. 

“The quality of life for residents has dropped dramatically for local residents …” 

Geelong planning, design and development director Gareth Smith said they had also been liaising with authorities such as the Environment Protection Authority and the Victorian Commission for Gambling and Liquor Regulation.

Sheridan Randall, 21^st October 2019