Balaclava tavern spurs ire

As Printed in the Caufield Leader

Paul Riordan

19Aug08

FEARS of drunken revellers passing out in Balaclava's streets have led residents to petition against a proposed hotel in Carlisle St.

But the developer has defended the plan, saying it would be a family-run business for all ages.

Balaclava resident Aqua Dibble has more than 100 signatures on a petition opposed to the plan.

The application is for for a 79-seat licensed restaurant downstairs and a tavern for 195 people upstairs. The council will consider the planning permit for the old Red Rooster site at 284 Carlisle St this month.

The permit will allow part-demolition of the building, a double-storey extension at the rear and a licence for the ground floor restaurant to operate from 7am-3am Thursday to Saturday. From Sunday to Wednesday it would be open 7am-1am.

Ms Dibble said she had doorknocked many houses and handed out flyers at Balaclava station.

"Most people don't even know about it," she said.

A council information session about the plan was at 5.30pm on a Friday afternoon, so many missed a chance to have a say, she said.

St Kilda East resident Rachel Powning said the Balaclava strip had a village feel, but the development would attract revellers from across Melbourne at all hours.

"It will set a precedent for other developments," she said.

Town planning consultant representing the applicant Alan Swindon said objectors had a "knee-jerk reaction" to the proposal, which would give bands a chance to play at a sophisticated venue.