Lady Chu prevails in street lighting war with Clover Moore – but a new sore point is brewing

War may still be raging in Europe and the Middle East, but a historic peace deal has just been sealed much closer to home.

In Sydney, the bitter battle between dumpling doyenne Nahji Chu and Lord Mayor Clover Moore has come to an end after the City of Sydney council finally conceded that new street lights above a buzzy Potts Point restaurant strip are far too bright and will now be significantly dimmed.

The backdown represents a major victory for Chu, who has long complained the “interrogation” lights are more intrusive than those in nearby streets and claimed they were installed as punishment for her ferocious criticism of Moore’s leadership.

“I’m just glad it’s over,” Chu said when contacted on Wednesday. “I feel heard and I feel strong. They should have just listened in the first place, but they have now, they’ve acted, and that’s the main thing.”

But just as the lighting stalemate is resolved, a new flashpoint has emerged: Chu has recently acquired an electric open-top “Junior Rover”, complete with “Chu Chu” number plates, and eyebrows have been raised by footage of the mini vehicle zipping along local footpaths.

The fight between two of Sydney’s most prominent women has captivated the city’s eastern suburbs, becoming a proxy for a broader debate on whether the 80-year-old lord mayor has stayed too long in the job. It has also bolstered the business community’s belief that government rules and regulations are strangling the city’s late-night economy.

Chu, the eccentric owner of the popular Lady Chu Vietnamese restaurant which dominates Roslyn Street, first took up the fight against new “smart” LED street lights last year, criticising Moore and the council’s chief executive officer Monica Barone on social media, and enlisting celebrity diners to help her cause. At one point, customers were given sun visors to wear during dinner. Umbrellas were deployed at night.

Chu this year painted over four lights which were blinding customers and ruining the street’s moody vibe. The council sent a cleaning bill for $10,659.

Independent MP Alex Greenwich stepped in to mediate the escalating dispute and secured victory this week. The mission was awkward terrain for Greenwich; he was Moore’s anointed successor in the state seat of Sydney in 2012, and is a regular at Lady Chu.

“This issue has been a hot topic in Potts Point, and I’m pleased we’ve reached a resolution that reflects the City of Sydney’s commitment to outdoor dining and preserves the vibe Lady Chu has created,” Greenwich said.

“Roslyn Street has changed over time and is now a vibrant dining destination, thanks in large part to Lady Chu.”

In a letter delivered to Greenwich on Wednesday, Barone revealed the organisation had recently commissioned an independent review of the lighting above the street.

“The review found the lights meet current standards and also identified opportunities to further reduce light levels, to improve energy efficiency and extend the life of the lights,” Barone wrote. “We are happy to let you know that we have been able to reduce the light levels further.”

The council has previously argued the lights could not be dimmed because of the risk of injuries and lawsuits.

The once down-and-out Roslyn Street has become a test tube for Chu’s hedonistic business model. Many Sydneysiders love it, but some aren’t so enamoured by the high jinks, or Chu’s take-no-prisoners demeanour.

Online reviews continue to be mixed. Some diners say the dining strip is a fabulous slice of Paris in Sydney. On Google Reviews, Peter Tsakonas called Chu “the most diva, house-down-boots, slay queen in the whole world”. Of the venue, he said: “It has something that so many restaurants are missing these days: personality.”

Others are less positive. One critique by a diner named Carolyn complained about the “terrible experience” and foul-mouthed fortune cookies served after dinner. Chu replied: “Carolyn, it’s 9.01 pm … you’d better get to bed babes. Try to get a good root and wake up happy FFS!”

Chu expects her new mini car, which she ordered from Vietnam, to trigger some complaints.

“If anyone says anything, I will say ‘what have you got against my wheelchair?’. I like to dress well and this is my well-dressed wheelchair,” Chu said.

“But it has already brought so many smiles to our faces, and in this economy we need something to brighten our lives.”

Start the day with a summary of the day’s most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter.