Intoxication and public safety risks force short term closure for Parramatta pub
A popular Parramatta pub has come under scrutiny from NSW Police and the state’s liquor and gaming watchdog after they raised public safety and “intoxication” concerns.
In response, the licensee of the Lewisham Hotel has accused police of harassment.
The venue was shut down by the Independent Liquor and Gaming Authority (ILGA) after a live music event.
The 14-hour closure order occurred on 21 January, which forced the cancellation of a Pacific Island themed music event due.
Headline act DJ Ronnie Snipes had to be cancelled.
The shutdown occurred after NSW Police raised concerns the venue may “operate in a way that exposes the public to significant threats and risks to their health and safety”.
The venue was also forced into restricted hours, reduced from 3am to midnight on two further nights in the last month.
Police also stated the venue demonstrated a “pattern of noncompliance” after breaching licence conditions imposed on the venue in September last 2022.
Breaches stated by police include inadequate CCTV coverage of the venue and an insufficient number of security guards employed at the hotel during a ‘family night’ event in October.
A ILGA spokeswoman also said, “previous breaches of licence conditions caused concerns for public health and safety” and that the hotel lacked “sufficient risk-based measures to prevent intoxication and disorderly behaviour.”
In challenging the closure, the venue made the statement that it had met its licensing conditions and that the shutdown amounted to “vexatious, bullying, and harassing behaviour”.
The ILGA found there was insufficient evidence to substantiate the pub’s claim.
Josephine Smith, the co-licensee of the venue is currently in mediation with police.
“I’ve been in the industry for 30 years and this is the first time I’ve ever been ordered to shut down,” she said, claiming the shutdown cost the venue $20,000.
“Last year we had special conditions put on our licence and we’ve tried to mitigate all the issues raised and get along with police.
“The conditions are extreme – we’ve had to upgrade all our CCTV cameras from 12 frames per minute to 15 because we were told the video wasn’t high quality enough, and on top of our normal security guard presence we need to have one additional guard per 100 patrons plus four guards patrolling the surrounding streets.
“The amount of police manpower committed to the venue has been unreal and it’s become harassment to the point where people don’t want to come to our venue anymore because of the uncertainty of when it’s open or when it’s closing early.
“We’re heading to financial ruin and it’s becoming a battle to stay open”.
NSW police is yet to comment further, however the hotel’s lawyer Stewart Levitt said the venue was considering lodging a complaint with the NSW Anti-Discrimination Board.
“We had a meeting with police two weeks ago and we said it was unfortunate the venue is being targeted because it was a gathering place and social and cultural watering hole for the Indigenous and other communities in Sydney,” he said.
“The amount of policing the publican is required to undertake on the street (as part of the licensing conditions) given it’s on Parramatta Rd is in my view an impost on any private operator and excessive.”
Jonathan Jackson - 14-2-23
