By Ian Neubauer
The City of Melbourne has taken action to drastically reduce the number of patrons allowed into the CQ Bar complex, a giant nightclub located in Queen Street in the city’s CBD.
The city has obtained a temporary measure to cap the number of patrons allowed to visit the complex from 7186 to 2150, Melbourne’s Herald Sun reported.
The order follows a city inspection that found exits, toilet facilities and public areas were insufficient to accommodate 7000 people. The order will come into effect in a fortnight unless successfully challenged by the licensee in court.
But CQ Bar owner, Harry Chua, said he preferred a smaller license as the maximum number of patrons was never reached.
“I keep telling everyone I’m happy to reduce the figures to a third or thereabouts,” Chua told the Herald Sun.
“We normally only have 1000 to 1300 at the nightclub on Friday and Saturday nights at any one time. That 7000 is giving us a lot of angst and we don’t need it and I don’t want it,” he said