Pop-up bar gets permit

BOMBORAS’ pop-up bar at Fishermans Beach has finally been given the green light to open again, but with stricter noise conditions.

Surf Coast Shire councillors unanimously voted to approve the planning permit for the tavern at 48 The Esplanade at their meeting on Thursday.

There have been differing opinions from the community about the pop-up bar, which ran a trial over last summer – last week’s hearing of submissions meeting about the permit had nine objectors, many of which raised noise as their major concern; but a petition submitted in support had more than 1,300 signatures.

There were also several questions asked about the permit during public question time at Tuesday’s meeting.

Under the new conditions, Bomboras must do several things before any music can be played at the bar. These include having the shire approve an acoustic report from a qualified acoustic expert that provides recommendations to limit the sound under the same state government criteria as an indoor venue, installing a noise limiter, nominating speaker locations and playing all music through the house sound system.

Cr Heather Wellington, who successfully moved the motion at the meeting, said the intention of the changes to the permit were to “set some hard limits for noise”.

She said the pop-up bar was very popular and by all reports was well conducted last year, but “it’s not majority rules in a planning sense”.

“Although (nearby residents) are not living next to an indoor music venue in Melbourne, you’ll have the same protections.”

According to the planning permit, the pop-up bar will have its maximum number of patrons increased to 150, and will operate from October 1 to April 1, seven days a week, from noon until 9.30pm, and from April 2 until September 30, from Thursday to Sunday, from noon until 6pm.