SWIFTS owner Kerry Jones has hit back at residents in the dispute over events at the historic Darling Point mansion, labelling their concerns “ridiculous”.
The newly-formed Darling Point Residents Action Group alleges that a string of events at Swifts since the property was restored by the Moran family a year ago have clogged the streets and disrupted the neighbourhood.
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The group has demanded that Ms Jones lodge a development application for all future commercial events and that Woollahra Council only approve events that have “little or no adverse effect on the amenity of the area”.
Residents say Anthony Minichiello and Terry Biviano’s celebrity wedding at the property on January 21 caused “significant disturbance”, with fireworks late in the evening.
“we fear that Swifts may become a commercial events centre and impact severely on the community,” said a spokeswoman for the group, Charlotte Feldman.
The demands come after a petition from residents of neighbouring units at 109 Darling Point rd was tabled at a recent council meeting.
Ms Jones told the Courier this week that she has applied to the council to host a series of Sunday afternoon soirees in her ballroom.
She said the two recent weddings held at the property were private events for friends and has pledged to lodge development applications for all future public events where tickets were sold. “There are a few mischievous residents deliberately trying to confuse myself and the council about the difference between commercial and private use,” she said.
“I would rather hope that common sense will prevail … to have to put a DA in each time I want to have a gathering for my friends is, in my opinion, a little bit ridiculous.”
Liberal Cr Toni Zeltzer said a community meeting, which Ms Jones promised to organise in order to gain council approval for an open weekend last year, was now “overdue”.
“The fact that the owners are prepared to make (Swifts) accessible to the broader public can be of great benefit,” Cr Zeltzer said.
“But this accessibility must be balanced against any negative impacts it may cause to residents and the community.”
Late yesterday, Ms Jones said the meeting would be held at Swifts on Saturday, February 25, from 2.30pm.
Saga over parties at Swifts branded ‘ridiculous’
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