Aussies divided after owner of family-run Italian restaurant blasts Inner West council for asking her to pay $15,000 to fix a non-compliant awning

By CAITLIN POWELL - NEWS REPORTER Published: 02:33, 23 May 2026 | Updated: 02:34, 23 May 2026 The owner of a family-run Italian restaurant has blasted her local council for asking her to pay $15,000 to fix a non-compliant awning in her outdoor courtyard.  Angela Camardi owns Mrs Pasta in Balmain, in Sydney's inner-west.  She installed an awning last year to protect customers in the outdoor courtyard from wind, sun and rain, as well as a large pine tree at the back of the property.  '(It) regularly drops debris, sap, and large branches, creating safety concerns and disrupting customers while dining', she explained in a video on social media. 'Now the Inner West Council is asking me to get this approved because some Karens complained that it makes too much sound when people are [sitting] out here dining, which doesn't make sense. 'Council wouldn't allow me to cut down the tree, for whatever reason.' As a result, Ms Camardi said the council has demanded that she remove and rebuild the covered courtyard structure to comply with the guidelines. The small business owner has launched a GoFundMe to raise money to help cover the costs of the changes. Small restaurant owner Angela Camardi (pictured) said she has to fork out $15,000 to make changes to her business after a complaint was made to her local council She said the council has told her to remove and rebuild the awning over her courtyard It has raised $635 of its $2,800 goal as of writing.   'As a small family-run restaurant, we are doing everything we can to stay afloat during already challenging times,' Ms Camardi said. 'This process would require engineers, consultants, and additional compliance work, costing our small business more than $15,000 - an expense we simply cannot afford.' Ms Camardi told news.com.au her original awning had not been approved.  But she argued the $15,000 fine was 'ridiculous', claiming other pubs and restaurants on Darling Street have not faced similar complaints.  The business owner added that the council claimed her kitchen range-hood was also unapproved, with changes estimated to cost her $25,000.  'So now I have to get a private certifier, an engineer, to come and approve that that range-hood is all up to specifications, which was here when I came into the place, mind you,' she said. Ms Camardi received a wave of support after sharing her concerns, though some have questioned why she didn't get permission before installing the awning.  Ms Camardi said the awning was built last year to protect customers sitting in the courtyard from bad weather or branches and pine cones that fall from a tree on the property She claimed other pubs and restaurants on Darling Street have not faced similar complaints 'Gosh, seriously, how horrible. Can't they just leave small businesses alone,' one person commented.  'Set up a GoFundMe. I genuinely think the community would rally behind you and help however they can,' a second wrote.  A third said: 'I agree you need the awning and you problem-solved this situation.  'But why didn't you get it approved in the first place? You left yourself open to this risk and it's a bit unfair to shame the council for that?' 'Everyone has to go through council regulations. It's actually for everybody's protection. Shoddy buildings can harm people,' another said.  'It's not council's fault, it's your own. It's all about safety and insurance etc. Take responsibility for your own actions,' another wrote.  The Daily Mail has contacted the Inner West Council.  No comments have so far been submitted. Why not be the first to send us your thoughts, or debate this issue live on our message boards. By posting your comment you agree to our house rules. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual We will automatically post your comment and a link to the news story to your Facebook timeline at the same time it is posted on MailOnline. To do this we will link your MailOnline account with your Facebook account. We’ll ask you to confirm this for your first post to Facebook. You can choose on each post whether you would like it to be posted to Facebook. Your details from Facebook will be used to provide you with tailored content, marketing and ads in line with our Privacy Policy.