34 Walker Street, Rhodes NSW 2138

A pub with gaming is really out of character of Rhodes West which mostly home for young families. I object this proposal.

Operating until midnight 7 days a week will have detrimental impacts on local residents due to the noise of intoxicated patrons leaving when the pub closes each night. This will reduce property values in the area.
There are numerous references in the attached docs to 20 gaming machines "with the potential for expansion" with no further detail. There should be no possibility of expanding from the 20 machines and absolutely no gaming machines permitted in the smoking area.
Where are the additional machines intended to go without impacting on the remaining communal areas, as there is no "spare" space identified on the plans??
The pub is to be situated close to a child care facility with hours of operation crossing over the child care hours, increasing the risk of children being exposed to bad language, harmful cigarette smoke and the potential actions of intoxicated patrons.
The only benefits identified in the Social Impact Statement are "additional opportunities for social integration and community cohesion", and "improved employment diversity and job creation". In an area focused on families and community, this could be better achieved if gambling and smoking was not catered for. Child-friendly drinking and eating facilities with play areas would provide the stated benefits plus more.
It appears that this proposal will only benefit gamblers situated within the Rhodes precinct that current need to travel outside the precinct to gamble (legally). The included analysis of the area shows ample licensed drinking facilities and limited access to gambling. This is the thin edge of the wedge to introduce gambling to the Rhodes precinct.
In summary, there is plenty to risk/lose and very little to gain other than the Proprietor and those agencies that reap rewards from gaming machines.

I object to this application. A pub with gaming machines is NOT APPROPRIATE for Rhodes and this location in particular. It is very close to residential apartments, a community centre and child care facility, so it will put the safety of residents, families and children at risk. Rhodes does not need a venue that will create a lot of noise, promote gambling and potentially attract anti-social activity (e.g. drunk people who may become violent). The outdoor smoking room will also pose a significant health risk for residents, especially given the high density of apartments proposed for the area. There are many other ways to promote economic and social activity without having this type of venue.

Having a pub with gaming machines is completely inappropriate and out of character for such a family friendly outdoor focused area like Rhodes. The social impact statement states "after consideration of the various inputs it was concluded that the susceptibility of the Rhodes and broader community to negative impacts from alcohol is considered low and unlikely based on several indicators" that are gross generalizations with no basis provided. Examples given include "high levels of tertiary and vocational qualification" and "diverse population comprising backgrounds that do not exhibit a heavy drinking culture". Being highly skilled and/or educated is not mutually exclusive with engaging in risky and dangerous behaviour - something that the social impact statement seems to be implying with no substantiation. Also, "low instances of alcohol related non domestic and domestic assaults". The social impact statement does not take into consideration that maybe Rhodes has low instances of alcohol related incidents because there has never been a pub here before, let alone one with gaming machines and an outdoor smoking room?
Apart from the negative social impact that a pub with gaming machines will bring to the Rhodes community, there are also health risks that stem from the outdoor smoking area that will churn out consolidated carcinogenic fumes to the nearby apartments. The access to gambling machines and alcohol that overlaps with business hours, including childcare hours, increased risk to safety of everyone nearby. The location of the pub is at an already busy intersection that has a constant flow of buses and cars trying to turn. It is currently quite challenging for pedestrians to cross, and will prove a safety risk for intoxicated pub patrons who may be trying to cross there. This is a terrible proposal that will benefit the pub and gaming machine owners, and attract potential undesirable demographics to an already overcrowded high-density peninsula that has more pressing issues to deal with (lack of schools, childcare facilities, increased traffic, overcrowded trains and buses would be some examples). There are much better, healthier ways to promote social integration and community cohesion such as the flourishing community garden and regular cultural events.

Absolutely not. Rhodes is a family area, what are you proposing will bring noise and disruption to a quiet area. Isn’t this meant to be part of a health and well being recreation centre? This is the complete opposite of that! This is a hard pass.

I object to this proposal. The proposed pub with poker machines will operate from 10.30am to midnight. Reading through the documents, a child care facility will be on the same floor so obviously that creates concerns.

I object to this proposal. In my opinion the gaming facilities that this proposal has attached are unsuitable for an area such as Rhodes. Having a pub is one thing, it is a place to congregate and be social, however having gambling facilities in the middle of a residential neighbourhood is totally out of character with existing facilities in the area. Many residents (myself included) live in an area like Rhodes because it DOES NOT have facilities such as this. Lets keep Rhodes free from licensed gambling venues, if people wish to participate, they can just go elsewhere. You can only say your suburb has no gambling facilities until the first one goes in, then pandora's box is opened. Lets keep pandora's box closed on this issue.

I totally object to this development. Rhodes is a residential area, lots of families live here and the proposed Pub/gambling venue not far from the new Community centre / Childcare centre is totally unsuitable in this development. Rhodes should be a community free of Gambling facilities. There are other facilities that are much more needed by the residents. Rhodes is already quite overpopulated and ever more people coming in from oather areas are just adding to the traffic/parking problems , more noise and antisocial behaviou already experienced by residents.

I totally object this DA. Really disappoint that council even would consider this kind of DA. Rhodes is a residential area. People choose to live here because it is quite, beautiful, convenient, peaceful. There are several child cared and community centers around this area. Most of resident are young family which child. A pub with gambling venue is definitely not acceptable in Rhodes. It will bring the area to a low level, it is not a way to attract more people to live in Rhodes, it will result in an opposite way. More high educated families with child will leave this area because of it. It is no more suitable for residential. Please reconsider the proposal and reject this ridiculous application. Walker street and Gauthorpe st will be even crowded and noisy because it is already overpopulated with the high risings recently built in the area. I don't even see any pub with gambling venue open in the middle of residential area in other area, why Rhodes need to open the Pandora Box? Is there any interest relationship in between? I will be really disappointed and shocked if that is true.

Why this would have been even considered? I totally object this proposal. I am the resident who live in the the opposite street. I don't want my child went down stairs and find the first shop in front of her face is a pub with gambling machine. I believe none of the parents will accept that. Rhodes is a residential area, let's keep it as residential place and not turn it to commercial. There are many family with child living in the area. Child cares and community Centre are not far away, they need a place to provide safety, quiet environment. The proposed pub will definitely ruin the area. I dont see any beneficial in this to have the pub with gambling machine in the middle of residential building. Please dont do this, for seek of our community and resident in Rhodes

I object to this proposal. It is absolutely disgraceful how this is proposed to be built when there is so many unsafe traffic infrastructure issues in Rhodes and maintenance issues. These machines will take peoples lives and send the community broke.

I don’t think the gaming facility should be allowed in Rhodes. As it’s a area with so many young families, a kids play zone within the pub will be a lot more welcomes by the community.

I object to this proposal. Rhodes is a peaceful family suburb and is busy enough with some major stores in its area, which already attracts disruptive visitors. Having a gaming + pub added in will only add to the noise, anti-social behaviours, and major congestion. This is the last thing this area needs. There are more important infrastructures that we need here. I do not want to see my kid/grandparent/etc., or anyone else's, have to walk past and be harrassed by people under the influence, or inhale their smoke on the way to the station or shops. I can see many of the current residents leaving if this pub is built in. By going forward with this, it will only create hostility within the community and attract the wrong crowd. This propsal is a detrimental and dangerous choice for everyone

Recreational centre encouraging fitness and health suddenly contrasted with gambling and smoking. Really doesn't make sense here. Its a bit too close to the heart and centre of Rhodes. With the primary and high schools eventually being built in neighbouring streets and to have kids walk past these every day definitely .... going to bring the wrong message and to have it under homes with different cultures (some religions are against gambling and to live on top of it is definitely a no go and inconsiderate of those who have purchased already.)

I object to this proposal. Completely out of character for Rhodes to have a pub and gaming area, especially surrounded by residential apartments. An outdoors restaurant garden bar would be much more appropriate.

Rhodes is a family friendly suburb with lots of young children and parks. We need Rhodes to stay that way, instead of having pubs and gaming facilities that draws the wrong crowd. Burwood police have been roaming the streets due to night riders and bikies causing noise pollution in the middle of the night. We recently had a bikie gang murder on walker st and we definitely don’t need more of these cases in a family friendly area. As a resident of Rhodes, I absolutely object to this proposal of a gaming facility and pubs.

I object this proposal. It is preposterous to even consider this given a) demographics (of people living here), b) safety (should be promoting a child-friendly and road-safe area), c) tranquility (the area is very densely populated (and increasingly so) with several road bottlenecks) and d) moral hazard (although economically beneficial to Bilbergia, this presents disproportionate risks to long-term residents / property owners in the area).

Please reject this proposal.

Rhodes is a family friendly suburb with lots of young children and parks. We need Rhodes to stay that way, instead of having pubs and gaming facilities that draws the wrong crowd. Burwood police have been roaming the streets due to night riders and bikies causing noise pollution in the middle of the night. We recently had a bikie gang murder on walker st and we definitely don’t need more of these cases in a family friendly area. As a resident of Rhodes, I absolutely object to this proposal of a gaming facility and pubs.

Rhodes is a peaceful middle class suburb. Let's not lower our standards by adding a dive bar.

I'm absolutely mortified and I object this proposal. I've lived on Gauthorpe Street since 2016 and having a pub is extremely out of character for a suburb like Rhodes. A pub does not align with the family-oriented residential status of Rhodes. Just have a look at the Rhodes/ Wentworth Point community group in Facebook group. For a long time now we have all collectively opposed and tried to eliminate late-night noise pollution, rubbish dumping, antisocial behaviour of people from neighbouring suburbs, bikie gangland murders etc.

Rhodes was a wealthy, quiet, and clean suburb. The last thing we need is a pub with gaming area (that will also lead to smokers loitering around). Whoever suggested this proposal has clearly misunderstood the suburb and is obviously only focusing on a missed KPI in their performance review.

Rhodes is a suburb of educated young families. We don't want to attract people who would even possibly consider drinking alcohol at 10.30am or hanging around until midnight playing on poker machines. Just think of the appearance and reputation of Rhodes if we had a pub. The negative social impact far outweighs any benefit. Please have a think of who your audience is, the location, socio-economic status of the residence, the education levels of the residence etc. They clearly do not align with people who would go to a pub with gaming area.

Please focus on more important matters such as increasing trains (have you tried catching a train into the city from 7.30-8.30am?), or maybe improving park facilities in Rhodes which is more appropriate and suitable to the social landscape of Rhodes.

I strongly object having a pub with gambling in Rhodes. Rhodes is a suburb with young families. It is out of character to have such a pub. Please do not ruin a nice suburb we are enjoying.

I oppose this proposal. Having a pub with gaming facility is highly out of character for a suburb like Rhodes. There was obviously no demographic assessment for this proposal.

Rhodes is a suburb rich in families with young kids. They want to go to the park with their dog, not sit in a smokey pub with slot machines going off. A pub would only benefit and attract people of lower socio economic standards from surrounding suburbs. It has zero benefit to the people who actually live in Rhodes who have been trying to reduce late night noise, antisocial behaviour, hoons, and traffic congestion.

Pub venues also have smoking areas which is not appropriate for a suburb which is high in families with kids. We also want to walk safely at night without the thought of possibly drunk people who may be violent or assault others.

This is such an inappropriate and bizarre proposal that I dare say perhaps it needs to be assessed whether there is a conflict of interest. I know Canada Bay mayor Angelo Tsirekas is under formal investigation for corruption in the ICAC's Operation Tolosa, so it raises red flags that a pub is now being proposed in a suburb like Rhodes. And John Sidoti has already been formally declared currupt by the ICAC (https://www.icac.nsw.gov.au/media-centre/media-releases/2022-media-releases/icac-finds-member-for-drummoyne-john-sidoti-mp-corrupt).

Again, this is such an out of character proposal for a wealthy and educated suburb (with daycare facilities just around the corner in both Mary Street and Walker Street). Gaming and drinking facilities are unsuitable and unwanted in Rhodes. A more suitable replacement would be a restaurant with nice garden bar (but no gaming license). The irony of this initial project being a recreational centre promoting health, wellness and fitness has now turned to a pub with gaming license to promote dirty drunks playing Queen of The Nile. Please don't contaminate Rhodes like this.

I strongly object the proposal of opening a pub with gaming license in Rhodes.

This idea is not suitable for Rhodes. Assess the demographic of people who live in Rhodes. It's a family friendly suburb which is safe and attractive for young families. A pub will simply lower the standards and appearance. A pub is clearly not the right market fit and I'm genuinely surprised that this assessment was not picked up or called out during the planning stage. It's so blatantly inappropriate. Perhaps the person/ people who suggested this idea are new to Planning or lives very far away from Rhodes so they don't understand the social/ economic landscape of the suburb and was just throwing out this idea in a brainstorming session?

If you have a budget to fulfill or a KPI to meet, focus on what people actually need in a densely populated suburb such as increased transport solutions (more trains and buses to get people into the city etc). Invest the time and money into improvements in high capacity suburbs like better traffic control and infrastucture (have you tried driving in/or out Rhodes on a weekend?). Let's try to restore Rhodes back to the glory it had ~5 years ago instead of attracting low-brow people with a pub and poker machines.

I object to this proposal. Not only that this is totally out of character of Rhdoes, but also could create way more unwanted issues to this community. Especially when number of unwanted behaviours has arised and we are still waiting for those to be resolved or reduced at least. Please do not create more problems, have solutions for the current ones first.

Rhodes is already congested and the lack of parking is already causing issues to the residents . The last thing the community needs is a venue that will increase the traffic and parking issues .
The council has already approved far more development than the area can absorb.
Billbergia is looking to seek further approval for a venue that will not only further disadvantage the people that live in Rhodes , but will also introduce a class of people that is contradictory to the family oriented residents.

Rhodes is a family friendly suburb which needs more schools, daycare facilities and parks. As a resident of this beautiful suburb who has lived in Rhodes more than 8 years, Saying Rhodes has to stay safe and crime free suburb for our kids, instead of having pubs and gaming facilities that draws the wrong crowd. Within last 10 years the council and the mayor have only damaged the suburb by illegal high rise permits and … , It is obvious that they only care for their personal benefits. We don’t need more noise and unsafe streets here. Adding 24x 7 McDonald's has already added lots of noise and traffic! As a resident of Rhodes, I absolutely object to this proposal of a gaming facility and pubs.

I completely object to this proposal.
I have lived in Rhodes since 2013 and seen the suburb gradually deteriorate in terms of liveability. The noise pollution, increased traffic and lack of suitable infrastructure to cope with the booming population has made this a far less attractive place for people to invest and live in.
Billbergia has also been less than honest with the local community.
During a meeting in late October the spokesperson stressed the family friendly facilities the company was planning. A late night pub with gambling areas was never mentioned and it is obvious why - they knew the objections that would be raised.
Have you looked at the other restaurants in the area?
Do any of them have gambling facilities operating until past midnight? Do any of them release a ton of patrons who have been drinking for hours onto the streets to disturb local residents? No. Invariably restaurants in Rhodes are places you can take young kids to or enjoy with a group of friends, and no gambling facilities are required.
As a resident of Rhodes, I absolutely object to this proposal and hope the council carefully consider the negative impact this facility would have on the suburb should it be allowed to proceed.

I object to this application. The area is close the childcare centre and also Rhodes is a community of Residential apartments mainly with familes with young kids which cannot tolerant this kind of toxic application.

This is great, there is no pub in this area and will be a great community point for those who enjoy an afternoon beer with some friends.
Looking forward to having this as an option, highly needed for this area

I object to this proposal. When I first moved to Rhodes feeling safe and peaceful to bring up my son and my mum would able to feel safe to walk around day and night. Rhodes now is busy enough, over developed, which already attracts disruptive visitors. Having a gaming + pub will noise, anti-social behaviours, and major congestion, we surely do not need. This is the last thing this area needs. I am very much afraid of my mum and son’s safety concern when they have to walk by the pub on their way home at night. Rhodes should be a place to feel safe and a peaceful suburb to bring up children and elderly to grow old. Enough is enough. Stop destroying Rhodes.

As a resident of 11 years and 10 years on gauthorpe street I 100% object to this out of place plan going ahead. All of the above comments from all of the other residents have covered all of our concerns.

There is many other ideas worth visiting to create opportunities for residents to meet new people rather than benefiting those licensed gaming companies.

Provide us with the thing we need and have been asking for and fix all those issues we have numerous unresolved and ignored complaints about!

The council has already created so many issues due to their decisions made without consulting affected residents and cover those decisions made with silence, excuses and lies while down playing and passing the bat on blame of existing safety issues that were clearly not thought out and prevented and just left for us to live with, provide us with more facilities and infrastructure to support the existing residents and planned growth. More concerned about revenue then keeping residents safe and happy.

This is 100% needed in Rhodes and would add value to the area.

We need a pub/meeting venue location to have a nice afternoon lunch.

At the moment we need to travel to a different suburb or the city CBD just to enjoy a quiet beer, lunch or dinner.

With the right trading hours and security measures it would benefit the whole community.

Not to comment on this particular applicant but the Pub and Club industry has an unsavoury reputation. Be it uncontrolled gambling and money laundering, alcohol abuse with associated violence and accidents through to noise pollution.

The profit from the operation goes to an individual or a small group of individuals whereas the community is lumbered with the costs and other downsides. There are plenty of pre existing pubs and clubs nearby. We don’t need another in a residential area of Rhodes.

Not to comment on this particular applicant but the Pub and Club industry has an unsavoury reputation. Be it uncontrolled gambling and money laundering, alcohol abuse with associated violence and accidents through to noise pollution.

The profit from the operation goes to an individual or a small group of individuals whereas the community is lumbered with the costs and other downsides. There are plenty of pre existing pubs and clubs nearby. We don’t need another in a residential area of Rhodes.

NSW has some of the highest per capita poker machines. Gambling is truly an epidemic in this state. These machines are made to be addictive and cause great harm to these communities. They are also an easy avenue for criminals to launder money. This definitely goes against the family vibe of the community and will cause harm to many individuals, all for the benefit for a select few. We should be in encouraging other more positive developments.

Definitely Not. We have so much noise n trouble as it is at night. So many young children living in rhodes.

I wish to lodge a submission that is PRO a pub/ hotel for Rhodes.
Our area has been sorely missing a social hub where groups can meet up for social drinks and meals.
It is unfortunate and inconvenient that we have to travel out of area to access pubs in other suburbs.
I do not agree with the gaming machines or the quantity in the proposal.
Every mobile phone/ laptop or pc has the ability for gambling.
Gambling is not unique to a poker machine.
Gambling encompasses lotto/ powerball/ scratchies/ horse racing/ football matches/ 2 up/ casino games etc.

I would much prefer to have live bands and entertainment at the proposed pub.

Rhodes is sold as a walkable suburb. Having a pub in our area would ensure that our Plan B would always be walking home.