As well, the proposed expansion would not comply with local and State planning, environmental and development policies.

The restaurant, on Marine Drive, is currently licensed for 60 seats. The plan to extend the deck by six metres would have provided for an increase of up to 96 seats.

The owners said the extension would not increase the demand for parking as the restaurant was intended to cater for people who were already in the vicinity, such as tourists.

Cr Len Roberts told the last meeting of the council that the proposed expansion was premature because the operators did not have the local residents on side and future parking problems were not known.

Mr Michael Orvis, a local resident who addressed the council on the issue, said that residents' objections included increased traffic and parking problems, noise, odours from the kitchen that affected residents opposite and the restaurant's possible use as a function centre.

He said that of 17 car spaces in front of the restaurant, up to five were used by staff.

The council was told that since the restaurant was granted a liquor licence earlier this year, noise had escalated and a lack of parking spaces created a bottleneck on Marine Drive.

Mr Bob Landa, who spoke on behalf of the owners of the restaurant, said that foreshore improvements by the council had increased the use of the area and a club and hotel down the road also contributed to the traffic flow.

During winter, the restaurant operated on only 60 days.

He said that 40 per cent of the restaurant's trade was serving breakfast meals and only 20 per cent of meals were at dinner time.

The balance of activity was for morning and afternoon teas.

Mr Landa said that the owners of the restaurant had no intention of using the restaurant as a function centre.

When the vote was taken Councillors Carol McCaskie, John Stephens, Lynette Lawry, Colin Cookson and Mike Tuffy asked that their names be recorded against the resolution which rejected the application.

Crs McCaskie and Lawry had moved an amendment that the application be approved subject to standard conditions with the inclusion of appropriate car parking contributions from the restaurant's owners.