10 March 2026
North Sydney Council has voted to proceed with the removal of informal tables and chairs placed on the foreshore plaza at Hayes St Wharf in Neutral Bay, despite strong local opposition and claims from nearby café operators that the furniture has long supported community use of the area.
Council rangers last week attached notices to tables and chairs placed on the waterfront area stating the furniture would be removed. The action triggered criticism on local social media pages and became the subject of debate at the council meeting on Monday night.
The seating has been placed in the area by patrons and by the nearby café Thelma & Louise, operated by Marilyn Nohra, who has run the business at the site for 21 years. Nohra said the outdoor furniture had been used in the space for several years, including during the COVID-19 pandemic when it was placed on adjacent public land due to indoor dining restrictions.
Nohra said she believed the furniture fell within the scope of outdoor dining arrangements associated with the café and noted the business carries public liability insurance. She said the café pays about $100 per week in outdoor dining fees to the council.
At the meeting, Cammeraygal ward councillor Efi Carr moved a motion seeking to halt the removal of the furniture, arguing the enforcement action was disproportionate.
“The threat of enforcement is a severe measure, I think, disproportionate to the circumstances, particularly given that the furniture has been in place for several years without incident and that the owner holds public liability insurance,” Carr told the meeting.
Carr also argued that council’s decision not to upgrade the Hayes St foreshore plaza had contributed to the situation by leaving a gap in public seating that residents and businesses had filled informally.
Responding during the meeting, council chief executive Terese Cole said rangers had been told the furniture was not wholly owned by the café.
Nohra told the North Sydney Sun that only some of the tables and chairs were provided by the business.
“Only probably about 40% of those tables and chairs are mine and the rest are being brought down by locals,” she said.
“We just put them to the side. But what happens is the locals see us and then they just put it out. And some of the locals bring some of their chairs. Because the problem is we’re in an older area with an ageing population and they want back support.”
Cammeraygal ward councillor MaryAnn Beregi said she had received complaints about the condition and placement of the furniture.
“I have had calls which say that the furniture is rusty, old, and dangerous. It impedes accessibility for those who have accessibility issues and the elderly, especially people in Lansdowne Gardens,” Beregi said.
She said some of the furniture was “unsightly, dangerous and is contributing to what interrupts a beautiful view”, adding that upgrades to trees and public furniture in the area would be desirable but that council currently lacked funding to undertake such work.
However, Nohra said the council had informed her it had received only one formal complaint about the furniture.
“They said they’ve only received one complaint twice from the same person,” she said. “So this is one person that’s complained twice that has basically almost destroyed something that the community loves.”
St Leonards ward councillor James Spenceley called for council to prepare a report clarifying the condition of the furniture and the boundaries of the café’s outdoor dining approval.
Nohra said she would be willing to pack away chairs each evening but noted that locals sometimes bring their own seating.
“I’m happy to pack the chairs up in the evening. But then I’m not responsible if somebody brings their own chairs. If they want to use it, I’m welcome to anyone using it,” she said.
Cammeraygal ward councillor Shannon Welch supported removing the furniture, citing concerns about cleanliness and waste left overnight.
“At times there are dirty cups and plates left overnight, overflowing bins and food waste that attracts vermin,” Welch told the meeting. “Residents have raised to me serious concerns about hygiene and the growing rat problem.”
Council is responsible for pest management and for clearing the council-provided bin located near the site.
Councillors ultimately voted 7–3 to proceed with the removal order. Council indicated that if its proposed Special Rate Variation is approved, new public seating could be installed in the area as part of broader foreshore improvements. If the funding proposal is unsuccessful, the area is likely to remain without additional furniture.
The decision has drawn criticism online, with many residents arguing the seating contributes to the character of the waterfront area and supports local businesses.
One resident wrote on a community page: “The chairs and the tables are providing culture, a gathering place for the community.”
Another commenter described the location as “a magical place to sit, enjoy and support our local businesses”.
Nohra said the café’s longevity had been built around the local community.
“Community. Honestly, we’re the best country town in the city,” she said. “This street is just such a gem.”
In addition to operating Thelma & Louise, Nohra also runs Mum and Dad’s Place nearby and organises the Hayes St “Pizz Up”, a bi-annual gathering where food is provided free to local residents.