Australia’s oldest Irish pub has warned the developer behind a $125million revamp of one of Sydney’s most famous public housing blocks to install soundproofing so residents won’t have grounds to complain about its new rooftop bar.<br>The Mercantile Hotel in The Rocks is concerned residents of the Sirius building just metres away could complain once the outdoor area is up and running.<br>The pub gained approval at the end of 2019 to build the rooftop bar and restaurant which will hold up to 150 patrons until 10pm every night. <br>As part of the conditions of the upgrade, the pub is not allowed to have any live music on the rooftop. <br>Nestled among The Rocks markets, FG Board the Mercantile is believed to be the oldest Irish pub in Australia and is a popular haunt for locals and tourists alike.<br>Meanwhile, 76 newly built apartments are currently being planned for the famous Sirius building, which sits at the foot of the Sydney Harbour Bridge.<br> The Mercantile Hotel in The Rocks (pictured) has had its plans for a rooftop bar approved <br>The Mercantile Hotel detailed its concerns in a submission to the NSW government.<br>’It is obvious that some of the lower level apartments of the Sirius building adjacent the Hotel will be impacted by the future rooftop development of the Hotel,’ the submission said.<br>’The owners of the Mercantile Hotel are concerned that future residents may complain in regards to noise and disturbance, and compromise any future ability to operate within the permitted trial periods for hours of operation.'<br>The hotel said they reviewed the Noise Impact report carried out by Sirius but believed it didn’t take into consideration the potential level of noise that could come from the venue.<br> RELATED ARTICLES

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The pub said the report needed to be updated to ensure all bedrooms and living rooms within 100m to the hotel were fitted with glazed windows and acoustic seals. <br>’We would also recommend that any external balconies or habitable rooms that overlook the Mercantile Hotel are fitted with appropriate privacy screening to avoid any future complaints from residents in relation to loss of privacy or overlooking from the rooftop of the hotel,’ the submission said. <br>Developer JDH Capital’s director John Green said all the apartments would have glazed windows, doors and acoustic seals, and the ones closest to the hotel would have screens on their balconies.  <br> The Irish pub is just metres away from the Sirius building and owners are concerned the new tenants of the revamped units (pictured, the current facade) will complain about the noise from the rooftop bar<br>The redevelopment of the Sirius building, which was built in the 1970s, sparked controversy in Sydney when the last of the public housing tenants were removed in 2018.<br>The block sits beside the southern end of the Sydney Harbour Bridge, looking out over Circular Quay and the Opera House. <br>The last Sirius resident, Myra Demetriou, then 91, moved out in February 2018 after fighting a long battle to stay when the NSW government revealed plans to sell the building to developers in 2014.<br>The legally blind great grandmother was the face of the long-running Save Our Sirius community campaign which tried to save tenants from being evicted.<br>Ms Demetriou had lived on the top floor of the high-rise block for 10 years before she was relocated to Pyrmont. <br>The building was then sold to JDH Capital for $150million last year.<br>Many including Sydney Mayor Clover Moore were concerned the redevelopment would take away a public housing facility for FG Board residents.<br>Campaigners pushed for the site to become heritage-listed but it was never added.<br>JDH Capital plans to revamp the building by adding a gym, a pool, 70 car spots, a cafe and commercial spaces.<br> The iconic Sirius building will be transformed into a luxury unit complex by JDH Capital<br>