“It will bring at business hours more cars, more people including large numbers for functions, more noise, more light pollution, more drunken rowdy behaviour [and] service vehicles,” Mr Cowdery said. 'Terrible eyesore' Mr Cowdery, the vice-president of the West Pittwater Community Association, called the Pasadena “a rogue development” that did not comply with planning laws – an argument strenuously denied by Mr Peterkin. Nicholas Cowdery, the former NSW Director of Public Prosecutions, pictured in 2013 with his wife Joy at Pittwater on Sydney's northern beaches. Credit:Fiona Morria Mr Peterkin’s plans are at odds with the Northern Beaches Council, which resolved in August 2017 to compulsorily acquire and bulldoze the Pasadena to create a park.

The council's plan to purchase the site with funds from the NSW government was backed by the Liberal member for Pittwater, NSW Education Minister Rob Stokes. “It’s vital that the low-key character of Church Point is maintained and its historic purpose as a community and commuter precinct continues,” he said in 2017. Northern Beaches mayor Michael Regan said the site had become a “terrible eyesore”. “The community called on the state government and council to take action and a resolution was passed at that time to return this important piece of the foreshore to the community,” he said. The Pasadena was described as 'one of Sydney's most exclusive roadhouses' before World War II.

A masterplan for the site would be developed in consultation with the community “if this acquisition is completed”, Cr Regan said. A council spokeswoman said negotiations with Mr Peterkin to purchase the Pasadena were “ongoing”. Proper processes Mr Peterkin said the council was given the construction certificate in September 2017 and did not ask questions about it: "Similarly, council representatives attended the work site at various stages of the works and did not raise any concerns about the construction certificate." Mr Peterkin questioned whether the council followed proper processes in deciding to compulsorily acquire the site.

He expected the “reinstatement and rectification works" to be completed shortly with the Pasadena re-opening in a few weeks. Not everyone is opposed to the re-opening of the Pasadena. A group of residents wrote to councillors in March to express concern about the council’s proposed acquisition of the site. “We are concerned that the views of a few small vocal groups who support acquisition may appear as the community view,” the email said. In contrast, Church Point resident Rob Jeffress said a restaurant and hotel at the Pasadena would have a serious impact on the environment and residents’ quality of life. Mr Jeffress said residents feared an occupation certificate would be issued if council failed to act, which would allow the Pasadena to re-open and complicate the acquisition process.

Three Pittwater residents groups argue the re-opening the Pasadena does not comply with planning laws, and have demanded the Northern Beaches Council take legal action against Mr Peterkin. “The council is the custodian of the public interest with respect to the development taking place there and it is inconceivable that council would turn a blind eye to the work being carried on there at present,” the groups said in a letter to Cr Regan. Cr Regan said the council was “investigating the lawfulness of current works being undertaken at the site”. The residents groups have also raised questions about a 25-year Crown land lease, which they argue was improperly awarded to Mr Peterkin – a claim denied by the NSW Department of Lands. Colourful history

Mr Peterkin’s plan for the Pasadena is the latest chapter in the site’s colourful and controversial history. Loading The Pasadena had been vacant for several years until it was purchased in 2012 for $2.4 million by Altius, a company part-owned by Mr Peterkin that outbid the former Pittwater Council. The site on prime waterfront land has been the subject of a number of failed development applications, which included proposals for a day spa, restaurant and bar, motel and apartment buildings of various sizes. “Because these development applications have been rejected, Altius has been restricted to carrying out rectification and reinstatement works in accordance with a previous development consent obtained some time ago in the 1960s,” Mr Peterkin said.