Palm Beach Barrenjoey Boatshed blocked from operating at night after just seven ... trends now
An angry local in one of Australia's wealthiest suburbs says the noise of people eating at a restaurant 600m and an entire golf course away would wreck his peace and quiet.
Stephen Jones successfully blocked The Joey in Palm Beach, the billionaire's row beachside retreat on the tip of Sydney's northern beaches, from operating later opening hours.
But that has enraged other residents backing the restaurant - also known as Barrenjoey Boatshed - who stress it is more than half a kilometre from its nearest neighbour.
More than 130 locals had backed the plan to extend the restaurant's opening hours to 11pm each night, from the current 7am-4pm daily and 10pm on Fridays and Saturdays during daylight savings.
Co-owners Ben May and Rob Domjen recently spent $7million revamping the famous cafe which regularly features in Seven's TV soap Home and Away, filmed on the beach nearby.
They rebranded the isolated boatshed as The Joey Dining Room and Bar, and applied to Northern Beaches Council for the extension to their opening hours.
While 132 locals submitted letters of support for the new restaurant, seven Palm Beach residents complained, causing the council to block the request.
Financial advisor Stephen Jones led the revolt against the application, saying it was 'totally unreasonable' and would cause his family unbearable anxiety.
The Joey, in Palm Beach, also known as the Barrenjoey Boatshed, is currently open from 7am to 4pm daily, and until 10pm on Fridays and Saturdays during daylight savings
The boatshed is at least 600 metres away from the nearest home in Palm Beach
He said he had lived in the area for 22 years and the late opening would cause 'significant adverse noise impacts' on its neighbours 600m away on the other side of the nine-hole golf course.
'I object ... due to a significant increase in the duration of loud music and particularly the deep bass beat effects that reverberates from the venue and can be heard from inside our house,' Mr Jones said in a submission to the council.
'This loud music and deep bass beat significantly effects our amenity and well-being.
'Music, plus patron noise can be heard within my bedroom.
'It is totally unreasonable for the nearby residents to have to suffer from noise issues from this venue operating seven days per week.'
Mr Jones said a wedding held on March 9 at The Joey until 10pm resulted in him hearing an 'extremely high level of noise' from inside his house.
He claimed to hear the bass from the music as well as the chatter of patrons.
'It caused a serious amount of anxiety to my family,' he said.
'I contacted the operator on numerous
