We are most concerned about this planning application and, as residents directly affected by it, wish to register our strongest objection to it.
The management of Scopri has shown itself to be utterly disrespectful of the amenity of local residents when it operated outside in Kay street in the Fernwood car park during the COVID lockdowns in 2020/2021. The noise was intolerable and Scopri made no attempt to ensure their patrons were quieter nor did it adhere to then 10pm closing time for outside spaces under the State govt COVID regulations. The noise carried straight up into our bedroom which is on the first floor of our property and directly in the line of the noise from Scopri.
We made ongoing complaints to the Melb City Council about the noise and the late closing. We refer to complaint: ENF-2020-371, first made 17 Dec 2020. Leah Waller was the MCC Planning Enforcement Officer handling the matter. She told us they were monitoring the situation but while the Scopri manager told her they would rectify the noise they did not, despite frequent phone calls.
When we inquired about a permit (TP-2020-654) issued 3/06/21 to 191 Nicholson Street (Scopri) to construct a verandah structure, Leah told us via email the verandah was to be established at the front of the property ie Nicholson St. It would appear that this is a new application to build the verandah at the rear of the property on Kay Street
We note that Kay St at the rear of Scopri and where we live in Station Street are in a residential 1 zone.
We also made a complaint with the Victorian Commission for Gambling & Liquor Regulation once on 17 December 2020 CMP-9965. This complaint was closed after the Scopri manager falsely told the VCGLR they would cease trading in Kay Street. When they did not we made a new complaint as the issues continued (CMP-10091).The relevant VCGLR inspector was Jason Tong.
As with the MCC our complaint was about :
1. The volume and type of noise that is amplified by the ‘outside’ location of the additional Scopri dining in Kaye Street
2. The fact Scopri rarely observed the 10pm closing time of its outside area that was part of part of the conditions under the special Vic govt COVID regulations that allowed to operate in a residential zone 1 area
If this new application is granted we are very concerned we will be facing the same issues as before
