A trendy Mexican restaurant in Sydney has been ordered to stop building a small terrace in a public park due to community backlash, despite receiving council approval.
The eatery was welcomed by residents when it opened in July in a 100-year-old warehouse overlooking Camperdown Memorial Rest Park in Newtown.
But things became complicated when the restaurant began building an eight-seat terrace in a 30-square-metre area of the park, despite having a 12-month agreement with the council to operate there.
Residents and councillors soon voiced their concerns, arguing that the platform would “commercialise” the park and contribute to the gentrification of the suburb.
On Tuesday morning, the council reversed its decision, ordering Comedor to stop construction of the terrace, even though the restaurant had already paid a $5,500 security deposit and an annual rental fee.
Deputy Mayor Chloe Smith said formal community consultation would now take place and “no installation or trading would take place until this process was complete”.
“It’s clear there was a major misstep in the process here, and I’m really glad we were able to rectify it quickly,” she told the The Sydney Morning Herald.
Tom Patterson, who lives next door to the restaurant, said the terrace could “get very crowded.”
Comedor was welcomed by residents when it opened in a 100-year-old warehouse on Australia Street in Newtown, in the city’s inner west, in July.
Locals were divided after the restaurant announced plans to build an eight-seat terrace (pictured) on 30 square metres of Camperdown Memorial Rest Park in Newtown.
“There is a big push to make Sydney more vibrant and I’m all for that. But Newtown doesn’t need to be more vibrant,” he said.
“It must be one of the most vibrant neighborhoods in the world. What makes a great community is contrast.
‘You can have amazing nightlife and you can have a wonderful park.’
Outgoing Inner West councillor Dylan Griffiths said he expected wide community consultation on the proposed platform.
“I think this is, in effect, the privatization of 30 square meters of much-used and valued public space, as it will be used exclusively by a for-profit entity during peak usage hours. It is an enclosure of the commons,” he wrote on Facebook.
‘Camperdown Park is an important third space for our diverse community, which includes young people and disadvantaged residents. Not everyone can stay at home or afford to spend time in Newtown’s private spaces. It is an extremely active park.’
Comedor is a newly opened restaurant in the trendy suburb of Newtown.
The terrace would occupy just 30 square metres of Camperdown Memorial Park (pictured)
The plans were discussed at a community forum Tuesday night and will be an agenda item at next week’s council meeting.
Inner West Council mayor Darcy Byrne said: “To describe this use of a very small section of the park as ‘privatisation’ is a stretch.”
He added that while community consultation should have been carried out, residents had welcomed new cafes and bars in public spaces since Covid times.
As part of the earlier agreement, the sale and service of alcohol was prohibited on deck and music was limited to five decibels above background music.
The deck also had to close at 6pm on weekdays and 8pm on weekends.
Daily Mail Australia has contacted the Inner West Council and Dining Hall.
Inner West Council Mayor Darcy Byrne (pictured) said: “To describe this use of a very small section of the park as ‘privatisation’ is a stretch.”
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