VCAT gives green light to L'unico Hotel expansion

Published on 04 February 2013

The owners of Clayton's L'unico Hotel have been given the go ahead to redevelop the hotel but have had their maximum allowable patron numbers cut.

The Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal has ordered Monash Council to issue a permit for the hotel's redevelopment.

Monash Council had opposed the permit application for the redevelopment on several grounds including a lack of on-site customer car parking, the likely negative impact on the amenity of the surrounding neighbourhood and concerns the potential increase in patron numbers was excessive.

The hotel had sought to increase its maximum allowable patron numbers from 130 people to 200 people between 7am - 6pm and 300 people after 6pm. VCAT has instead restricted the maximum attendance after 6pm to 250 people.

Monash Mayor Micaela Drieberg said that VCAT's approval of the redevelopment would be disappointing for residents who live near the hotel.

"We're concerned that the extra customers will be parking in residential streets and waking up residents in the early hours of the morning," she said.

"We tried our best to limit the disruption to residents. So while we're unhappy with VCAT's overall decision, it's good the patron numbers were cut back a bit."

As part of the redevelopment, the number of poker machines at the hotel is set to be increased by seven to 35.

Cr Drieberg said Council had made a separate appeal to VCAT against the Victorian Commission for Gambling and Liquor Regulation's approval of the seven additional poker machines for the hotel. VCAT is yet to hear that matter.

"Clayton already has more poker machines per population than the average for a Melbourne suburb," Cr Drieberg said.

"Council is worried about the impact of problem gambling in our community," she said.

"We're hopeful that VCAT will give us a fair hearing on our concerns and come down on the side of protecting our community's welfare."