Sydney pub settles council dispute
A Sydney pub which was ordered to remove 60 signs due to heritage concerns has settled its dispute with council and can keep its signage.
The north shore pub went into battle against North Sydney Council after it was ordered to remove the advertising signs, including one that spruiked its $12.50 ‘schnitty’ specials.
The Union Hotel, owned by the Good Beer Company which also operates The Harold at Forest Lodge, Keg & Brew at Surry Hills and The Commodore Hotel at McMahons Point, was ordered to remove the signs in May last year after council claimed they were “visually intrusive” and resulted “in adverse streetscape issues”. Council argued the signs failed to meet planning standards for the nine-decade old heritage listed venue.
TAB and VIP signs were the primary culprits. There were also signs advertising live music dates, happy hour and trivia nights. The council argued the signs were installed without approval from the planning department.
“The signs detract from the character and significance of the property, which is a heritage item,” the removal order stated. “The proliferation of signage covering the glazed windows and doors is also uncharacteristic to the locality and considered by council to be unacceptable.”
The pub’s owners countered with a development application five months later to maintain the majority of the existing signage, arguing it would complement and “enhance” the aesthetic of the building.
The application was refused in December and The Union Hotel launched an appeal to the Land and Environment Court.
The pub made amendments to the development application during the hearing and the court found in favour of the venue’s amended development application.
Signage was approved with a number of conditions, including an illumination ban between 1am and 7am and removing any “objectionable glare or injury to the amenity of the neighbourhood”.
Jonathan Jackson, 18th April 2023
