MOD 11 - Use of seating in Innovation Plaza

Richard an ex. Eveleigh Blacksmith, later NSWGR Welding Engineer Wilson St. Laboratories. Author, Historian, Publisher. ex. Smithsonian Institution member plus RAHS and Natl. Trust. Now Wrecked Heritage.

RTBU Retired Members Association opposes the Application. Submission attached.

At the outset I would like to state that I am not against an outdoor dining area in total, but in the size of area that it is proposed.

When Brewdog first opened, the outdoor area was contained within an area that aligned with the pictorial representation that was shown on the overhead photograph with shading, as contained in the Acoustic Assessment conducted by Renzo Tobin and Associates. This area shows the proposal contained within an area that finishes considerably north of the application, and thus the shielding from the National Innovation Centre and the line of sight noise that was created at this time had little affect on most residents of Cornwallis St, of which I am one. For a short period, the amount of outdoor furniture was extended well south of the area shown in the acoustic assessment overhead, which demonstrated quite clearly that this has the affect to significantly increase the noise heard by local residents.

I also note from the acoustic assessment that the noise from the outdoor seating was predicted to come predominantly from seated patrons, drinking, dining and talking with approximately 50% talking at once (conservatively). Whilst the noise in this scenario when contained in the northern area of the proposal, is generally quite acceptable, what has occurred in less than 2 months of operation is that the adults are the ones sitting whilst their children are running, riding bicycles and scooters but, more more pertinently, often screaming unabated. These screams occur at decibel levels well above that contained within the assessment parameters in an area that has hard reflecting surfaces and have already been experienced to the levels where it was necessary to substantially increase the volume of my television (with the potential to directly affect my neighbours) and/or I need to close my balcony doors, which results in a loss of fresh air, one of my great enjoyments, and has a detrimental affect to both my electricity usage and the environment. This has been observed to have started early afternoon and continued until after 20:30 in the evening. The larger the size of the beer garden the greater the potential for this noise to be exacerbated.

I am not against children, and actively encourage that they should playing outside, but hours of high pitched screams are not conducive to a peaceful environment. As these children can often be seen going to the outside tables to have refreshments, I believe that they should also be considered as patrons in the beer garden and therefore Brewdog needs to take some responsibility for the resultant noise (you can't build an airport and say you are not responsible for the aircraft noise of the planes flying outside your boundary).

Whilst I recognise that the pub is currently operating on a temporary basis that allows outdoor dining, I note with interest that they do so without complying with how it is proposed to operate under the application. In particular, the proposal states that when "the venue is not operating, beer garden furniture will be neatly stored indoors within the tenancy." In my observations, this has yet to have ever been complied with. Also, "No background music is permitted within the beer garden", yet on at least one occasion a DJ was employed and did provide music in the area.

I hope that Brewdog does well and it is my intention to be a regular patron, but in establishing a new pub in the area I believe that it is necessary to be mindful of the surrounds that it is going into, and not just focus on the immediate area it wishes to create. I note from their website that they are already able to accommodate 720 patrons indoors and 190 outdoors.

My submission is that the beer garden should be contained within the north western side of Innovation Plaza, such that the National Innovation Centre building provides the maximum amount of line of site noise shielding for local residents. It is also my submission that Brewdog should be actively looking to control and reduce all noise resultant from the patronage of their premises, including the children of patrons.

1. I strenuously object to the continuing aggressive privatisation of public space in the pursuit of profit.

2. The area outside the bar is no longer a (rare) place of quiet contemplation. The new bar has ruined the ambience of the square. It used to be a pleasant and quiet shady area where people could go and sit or read in peace. Grioups of intoxicated people make it inherently more unsafe and more likely the public (and especially women) will be subjected to verbal of physical assault.

3. There has been a significant increase in street noise, people not realising or not caring they are in a residential area and remaining quiet when they leave the bar, out of respect for those who need to work or have young children or whatever.

4. There is now also a markedly increased quantity of rubbish and smashed glass and bottles along the street.

5. Brew Dog is a an unethical company, accused by current and former staff of, among other things:

a.union busting
b.appalling treatment of staff (especially women)
c.intimidation
d.inculcating a 'culture of fear' and 'cult of personality' (similar to other 'bros' like Elon Musk).

6. Brewdog tasks private investigators with digging up 'dirt' on people the CEO believes have maligned him.

See also:

The Guardian:
https://www.theguardian.com/business/2022/mar/14/brewdog-boss-hired-private-investigators-to-gather-evidence-of-alleged-smear-campaign

BBC Scotland: The Truth About Brewdog
https://youtu.be/XamxzvGm8YQ

I’m fully supportive of the outdoor seating and particularly it’s late operation until midnight. I believe it’s in keeping with a busy mixed use area

As a long-term resident within less than 100m of the proposed retail/hospitality expansion, I don't think having a commercial hospitality venue unreasonably encroaching on existing public (sub-leased Crown land) or thoroughfare is right. Nor are the proposed hours 10am-12am 7 days a week right or fair. If the proposed expansion of outdoor seating doubles/+ 7 days a week - with possible live music or DJ/sound-systems going, residents won't be able to enjoy a bit of 'quiet time' on a Weekend. I also have concerns of a 'creep' towards future application of the trading licence of the venue Fridays-Sunday into the small hours (3am, etc.) No problem with its current set-up 10am-12am Mon-Sat; but Sundays need to be 10am-10pm - and outdoor seating kept at current or a minor/reduced expansion of what is proposed - otherwise it has the potential to just become a commercial moneymaking business that is trading on the 'cool' factor of a NSW Heritage industrial setting, not taking into account people still live beside it. Cheers.