Sutherland Shire Council has fined Westfield Miranda for breaching its development consent by carrying out renovation works and alarm testing, and operating its car wash, outside permitted hours.
The council has issued Westfield eight fines for alarm testing at times not permissible under its development application consent and three fines for working past the allowed time during its recent redevelopment.
It has also issued a fine for the car wash operating outside hours. Each fine comes with a $3000 penalty to be paid to the council by Westfield.
Earlier this year the council issued Westfield Miranda six $3000 fines for after hours work and using the loading dock outside permitted hours.
Sutherland Shire mayor Kent Johns said the council was responding to numerous complaints from community about the noise coming from the centre’s renovation works and the alarms sounding day and night.
‘‘Council’s compliance officers have been monitoring Westfield Miranda around the clock and will continue to monitor the site,’’ Cr Johns said.
‘‘We have fined Westfield for beaching is DA consent and will continue to do so for every future breach.
Each breach costs Westfield financially and further strains relations with neighbouring residents and businesses. Council is holding Westfield to its consent conditions and will not be lenient as it affects the livelihood of the surrounds residents and businesses.
“Council is meeting regularly with Westfield centre management in an attempt to prevent the breaches from occurring at all.
‘‘In the most recent meeting, the council issued Westfield with a notice of intent to comply with consent which means that if Westfield continues to breach its DA consent conditions the council may take the company to court.
‘‘Council finds these breaches by Westfield unacceptable and is taking a tough stance by issuing penalty notices and $3000 fines for each breach. We are representing the community’s interests by making sure Westfield keeps to the DA consent conditions.
‘‘Neighbouring residents should not have to put up with noise from the renovation works and alarms sounding in the middle of the night.
‘‘Council is also investigating what other avenues are available to it to lessen the unacceptable impacts the construction is having on our residents, especially night works,’’ he said.
Westfield Miranda’s community liaison officer is also receiving complaints from the community. She can be contacted on 9525 6344 or abrandon@centregroup.com.
In a media statement emailed Friday afternoon, Westfield Regional Manager, Scentre Group, Kate Holsgrove, said:
''Westfield Miranda regrets any disturbance or inconvenience it has caused residents as it prepares to open the new centre. In particular, Westfield Miranda acknowledges and apologises for the inconvenience caused by the fire alarm testing in the early hours of the morning on Monday 13 October. This was an error and should not have happened.
''We want to thank the community for their ongoing support that we witnessed at the launch of the Fresh Food precinct on the 16 October. The $475 million redevelopment will continue to bring many benefits to the local community including more retailers, improved food and dining options and a boost to the local economy. It has also created 4,000 jobs during construction and will create another 850 retail jobs after completion. Notwithstanding this, as the major launch is fast approaching in November, we are committed to delivering an exceptional centre to our locals with as minimal impact as possible. We are working hard with our contractors and retailers to ensure there are minimal disruptions out of hours as we prepare to open the new Westfield Miranda.''
Do you think the fines on Westfield are strong enough?