Plans for a restaurant to build an outdoor dining platform in a popular local park in Sydney's inner west have been halted after a backlash from residents.
The Comedor restaurant, which opened last month, backs onto the historic Camperdown Memorial Rest Park in Newtown and was granted a permit to use 30 square metres of public land to build a deck with space for up to five tables.
Under the agreement, staff would be permitted to serve food and non-alcoholic drinks from bifold windows at the rear of the restaurant.
Construction work on the deck was due to get underway this week but the agreement has now been put on hold following a public backlash.
'The community engagement should have occurred earlier'
The Inner West Council has apologised to residents and ordered a halt to the construction of the controversial outdoor dining platform.
"In response to community concerns, Council has informed the proprietor of the cafe that all the permissions required have not been issued and that the approval process has been halted to enable community consultation and engagement to occur," a statement from the council said.
"The community engagement should have occurred earlier and Council apologises."
The matter will now be considered at a full council meeting next week.
Inner West Greens councillor Liz Atkins said the decision to allow the outdoor dining area was made without consultation with elected councillors or locals.
"It's recently come to everybody's attention - residents, councillors, park users," she said.
"Basically, [it's] privatising a little bit of the park."
Approval for the dining area was given for 12 months with an option to renew.
The council declined to reveal the annual hire fee being paid by Comedor, saying it was "commercial in confidence".
Residents informed by letter drop
For neighbour, Amy, the news came out of the blue.
"The first we heard about this was a letter that was dropped in residents' mailboxes a couple of weeks ago that said there was approval for trucks to access the park to deliver construction materials for a deck," she said.
"That was the first that any of the residents had heard about the deck itself and the expansion into the park."
She lives next to the park with her partner and their two children and said they use area now earmarked for the restaurant deck for children's parties.
"People do use this space for all sorts of things, there was a tai chi group just here yesterday practising. There are birthday parties, there are picnics.
"It's a very active space already, it's very well used so I don't think we need to find some way to activate this space."
'There should be public engagement and public consultation'
Inner West Deputy Mayor Chloe Smith expressed concern about the way the issue has been handled.
"Residents in this area have very strong views about how their local parks are used," she said.
"There should be public engagement and public consultation when it comes to decisions about how our public spaces are used."
The matter was due to be discussed at a community forum in Newtown on Tuesday evening.
The ABC spoke to the owner of Comedor Walter Shellshear and venue manager Kieran Took.
Both declined to comment publicly on the controversy.
Locals divided over development
In the park, opinion on the development was divided.
"I think it's great," said Newtown local Geoffrey Langdale.
"I think if every single place started chopping pieces off here, it would be one thing but having an exception isn't a big deal."
Lisa Lewin from nearby Camperdown was also enthusiastic.
"I think it's building community and vibrancy in the park," she said.
Local resident Michael Tierney was more ambivalent.
"It really depends on how they do it to be honest. It is a public space, it's not great that private property is encroaching on it, but if it's done well, I think it might be OK," he said.
Cr Atkins said it was important to preserve public access to green spaces.
"People who live in the inner west often don't have big gardens so this is a really popular place to bring your kids, walk your dogs or have a picnic," she said.
"Teenagers are often here in the evenings so it's just a great public social space where people can connect."
With housing density increasing in the inner city, she said public parks should be protected from commercial encroachment.
"So spaces like this, which is actually quite a large open space in an inner city area, are really important so that people can get outside and have kids run around.
"But also in terms of climate change, this place is a carbon sink. The more natural grass we have, the better."
