Beer garden battle as Geelong pub uses ‘technicality’ to dodge council ban
Geelong pub The Deck is using a “technicality” to keep its beer garden open following council orders to close it over noise complaints.
Noise complaints from a neighbouring apartment complex forced the City of Greater Geelong into taking action against the pub and force it to close its beer garden and convert it into a car park.
The Deck has since has since added new carparks to comply with the order, while still retaining a beer garden at the historic pub through a “technicality”.
“We installed three car spaces within that back area as per the planning permit, and we’ve made the vision for the cars to drive in and out, but we’ve made it staff only,” pub owner George Zurcas told the Geelong Advertiser.
“We put our furniture out there, but not in the driveway.
“The council did an inspection, and sent a letter late yesterday saying we don’t comply, we comply with the car parks but we don’t comply having furniture out there.”
Zurcas said he had been advised the furniture did fit with the planning permit.
More than 1700 people have thrown their support behind a petition calling on the council to allow the pub to keep its beer garden open.
“We have spent literally hundreds of thousands of dollar to comply and they continue to bully and try and run us into the ground,” the petition said.
“By taking this away you are risking taking food off the table for 38 inclusive staff members now to mention also includes security, cleaners, reps & more.”
Sheridan Randall, 16th March 2020
