Plea for action on cafe

By Jim Mynard
GUYS HILL residents have called on Cardinia Shire Council to ensure that the Nush Restaurant at the corner of Beaconsfield Emerald Road and Luke Place complies with its permit conditions.
Residents said their quality of life had been destroyed because of intermittent and loud music from the restaurant, formerly the Cafe Bel Posto.
They said also that indiscriminate parking in the streets around the restaurant was causing havoc.
Spokesman for the group, Tom Cantwell, who lives opposite the restaurant said it was operating well outside hours allowed by its permit.
“The worst part is the sports night,” Mr Cantwell said.
“We have people drinking and urinating in the street and we have had golf balls belted at our house after we complained about the illegal activities.
“It’s called a cafe sports bar, but its another name for a night club.”
However, proprietor Jason Bradley said he would work with neighbours to get things right.
Twentyeight residents had objected to an application made to Cardinia Council for extension of its operating hours but the application was withdrawn.
Mr Cantwell said some people from Upper Beaconsfield were concerned that their complaints could have the restaurant closed down.
He said, however, that they were not asking for it to be closed, just that the proprietor comply with his permit conditions.
Residents said noise and loud music was so bad that one Sunday the whole area was driven crazy with the din.
“If this was purely a restaurant and had respect for its neighbours there would be no problem but this is not a commercial area.
“This is a residential area and the little Bel Posto was a pleasant meeting place before it changed to this.
“We have to listen to filthy language from hoons who drop their pants in the street.
“This place has a permit for 35 diners but sometimes we have 50 cars parked around the place.”
Ranges Ward councillor Graeme Legge said he was sympathetic to the neighbours’ problem.
Cr Legge said he was not prepared to support an application for extension of the trading hours.
“It was imprudent of an operator wanting an extension to demonstrate noncompliance of his existing permit conditions.”
Cr Legge said he had visited the area twice and had an understanding of what people were experiencing.
Mr Bradley said four neighbours were causing him grief.
He said they might be saying they had had enough but said so had he.
He said police had been to the restaurant 20 times and found nothing wrong.
“They just shake their head and go away because they have been here for nothing.
“We close our doors at 10pm according to the permit,” Mr Bradley said.
“We have spent a lot of money getting the infrastructure right and fixing problems that should have been dealt with before we started three months ago.
“We plan to work through this and to get things right in regard to parking, but we have been complying with the licensing hours.
“We have stopped the Sunday band,” he said.