BY OLI GOELDNER
A proposal to establish extend operation hours and loosen noise restrictions on a Newcastle West block has been labelled a "dangerous mistake" by residents.
Newcastle's Midtown area, bound by Hunter, King and Steel streets, has been put forward as the potential location of a Special Entertainment Precinct (SEP).
Trialed across various parts of NSW, the new classification allows councils to set trading hours and sound conditions to encourage live performance and support night life.
However, voluntary community advocate for alcohol harm prevention Tony Brown said the move is a major mistake.
"The local residents living in the mid part of Newcastle, will be really victimised by council and the state government to deal with more noise, violence and a loss of their rights to the peaceful enjoyment of their properties," he said.
Mr Brown explained the proposed precinct could have an adverse impact on resident's property value and amenity.
"Any investment in the night-time economy has got to be responsible, not just about making more profits by having more young people highly intoxicated," he explained.
"We've seen that before in Newcastle and we'd thought we'd honestly put that behind us."
He added a similar venture was recently rejected by Byron Bay council.
"They rejected the demands for the imposition of the SEP because of the very fact of likely more noise, more violence and more disturbances."
Councillor Declan Clausen stated over the weekend that inner-city Newcastle should not be "going to bed with Big Dog".
"Venues do operate here, this is a part of a city that we would like to see have a very active nightlife, and that requires new residents to be really open-minded about what they might mean if they're moving in right nearby," he said.
"There's some in Newcastle that would like to see us all go to bed with Big Dog and not have a vibrant nightlife in the city.
"I fundamentally disagree with that."
The motion will be put forward at the next Ordinary Council Meeting.
