A dispute that has rocked an exclusive suburb on Sydney’s northern beaches for months has taken a dramatic turn with the sudden departure of one of its participants.

Stephen Jones successfully prevented Joey from working late at Palm Beach, the billionaire’s resort at the tip of the northern beaches.

He was one of seven angry locals in one of Australia’s wealthiest suburbs who said the noise of people eating at a restaurant 600 meters away and an entire golf course would destroy their peace and tranquility.

But now Mr. Jones has left with determination, with records showing that he and his wife, Susan, have sold their home for $9.5 million. Messenger of the Sun reported.

There are rumors that the Joneses have moved 3 miles south to Avalon Beach in Palmy, better known worldwide as the location of Summer Bay in Home and Away.

Amid a bitter dispute worthy of one of Home and Away’s wildest plots, more than 130 residents have demanded that the restaurant’s opening hours be changed from 7am to 4pm daily and from 10pm during the day to 11pm every night on Fridays and Saturdays. He supported the plan to extend it to . time saving.

Co-owners Ben May and Rob Domjen spent $7 million renovating the famous café, which regularly features on the Channel Seven show.

They renamed the isolated boat shed the Joey Dining Room and Bar and applied to the Northern Beaches Council to extend opening hours.

Stephen Jones (pictured) is one of seven people complaining about The Joey in Palm Beach’s extended hours

Palm Beach is famous worldwide as the real-life location of Summer Bay from the TV series Home and Away. Emily Weir, who plays Mackenzie Booth in the series, is in the photo

While 132 locals submitted letters of support, only seven locals objected, causing the municipality to block the request.

Financial adviser Mr Jones launched a rebellion against the application, saying it was ‘completely unreasonable’ and would cause unbearable anxiety for his family.

He said he had lived in the area for 22 years and the late opening would cause ‘significant adverse noise impacts’ on his neighbors on the other side of the nine-hole golf course, 600 meters away.

“I object due to the significantly increased duration of loud music and particularly the deep bass beat effects that reflect off the venue and can be heard from inside our homes,” Mr Jones said in a submission to the council.

‘This loud music and deep bass beat significantly impacts our comfort and well-being. Music and boss noise can be heard in my bedroom.

‘It is completely unreasonable for those living nearby to experience noise problems in this venue, which operates seven days a week.’

Mr Jones said a wedding held at The Joey until 10pm on March 9 resulted in customers hearing ‘extremely high levels of noise’, including conversations.

‘This situation has caused serious concern to my family,’ he said.

‘I contacted the operator multiple times to request that they turn down the music, turn down the bass beat and change the music style to one with NO bass beat.’

But he said: ‘The operator made no attempt to turn down the music or the bass beat all night and in fact reacted quite rudely.’ he said.

Mr Jones claimed wedding guests were still outside the venue long after the wedding had ended.

‘Drunk patrons wrestling and fighting outside the venue. “This is what we’re potentially going to have to deal with until 11 p.m. seven nights a week,” he said.

Co-owner Mr May has applied to the Land Environment Court to overturn the local council’s decision.

‘Isn’t it a bit ridiculous? “I mean, we’ve got a golf course between us and these people, and they’ve found a reason to have a problem with it,” he told The Today Show.

The boathouse is at least 600 meters from the nearest house in Palm Beach

Joey in Palm Beach, also known as the Barrenjoey Boatshed, is currently open daily from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., and until 10 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays during daylight saving time.

‘This really means three or four people ruining thousands of people. The whole north coast could enjoy this area.’

Mr Jones had previously objected to the Boat Shed being able to open during daylight saving time on Fridays and Saturdays.

In his unsuccessful appeal filed in July 2021, he said bands should not have been allowed to play on the outdoor deck, which should have been inaccessible to patrons due to noise issues.

He also objected to keeping the venue’s windows open during night events.

Mr May and Mr Domjen wanted to turn the cafe into a place where locals could enjoy watching the sunset with a glass of wine and a plate of fresh seafood.

With chief objector Mr Jones now out of sight, they will be hoping for a better outcome when the Land and Environment Court delivers its decision, expected within a few weeks.

If he can get a reprieve, Joey, named after the local Barrenjoey Point, will find a way to recover the estimated $150,000 the restaurateurs have already paid in legal and consultancy fees.

Daily Mail Australia has contacted Mr May and Mr Domjen for comment.