Perth Voice Interactive

RESIDENTS at St Elmo apartment block in Mount Hawthorn can already hear neighbours flush the loo through their walls. Now they’ll soon have the joys of noise from a small bar to add to the cacophany.

The application still has to get the thumbs up from the strata, but this week a divided Vincent council narrowly approved plans for Red Dust photography studio owner Paul Parin to open a small bar in a ground level space.

Cr Matt Buckels, who deals with sound-proofing in his civilian life, says modern tech can adequately soundproof the building so residents aren’t bothered.

While Cr Buckels relies on modern science others turn to ancient tenets: “To me it comes down to a principle that’s been around since Roman times: caveat emporum,” Cr James Peart said. We reckon he was actually aiming for the Latin phrase caveat emptor meaning “buyer beware”.

“It’s very unfortunate that people have purchased properties without considering that the town planning scheme allows something like this,” he said. “It’s a learning experience… if you looked a bit closer maybe it wouldn’t come as a surprise. I do have sympathy for the residents who may not have thought about it.”

Cr Emma Cole said it was a toughy but she didn’t see the council having strong grounds to knock it back. A small bar fitted a street that already has places like The Cabin running late.

Mayor John Carey and Crs Laine McDonald, John Pintabona and Ros Harley opposed the bar but lost the vote.

Mr Carey said an eatery had previously been earmarked for the site. ”The residents didn’t know this would be a small bar,” he said. If the bar was across the street he’d approve it, but he couldn’t give it the thumbs up in this building.

He said owner Mr Parin may have the best intentions but he found it hard to believe the bar would keep shut all its doors and windows during summer.

Cr Harley said her vision for Mt Hawthorn didn’t involve residents having to close their balcony doors to escape noise from a bar.

Cr Pintabona suggested the owner pack his suitcase and open a bar where residents wanted one.

The bar still needs strata approval and a licence from the WA liquor department.

by DAVID BELL