MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire Council has knocked back a bid to open another bottle shop at Hastings.
The liquor outlet, proposed for shop 4-6, 20 Victoria Street, Hastings, would have been the seventh in the town.
The planning services committee on 27 January voted in support of Cr Lisa Dixon’s motion that the proposal was an “incompatible land use that would, in conjunction with existing licensed premises, result in adverse cumulative impacts on the amenity of Hastings town centre and surrounding residential areas”. Cr Antonella Celi seconded the motion which was carried unanimously.
Cr Dixon said she “called in” the liquor store application because there were already six outlets in Hastings, two in Tyabb, one at Crib Point and one at Bittern Fields.
“While I support small business, I could not support this application due to the number of outlets potentially becoming 12 to service about 9500 residents,” she said.
Cr Dixon questioned whether another proposed liquor outlet “does indeed protect community amenity, health and safety”.
“The position selected for this potential outlet is also concerning: It’s between three established liquor outlets within 500 metres and alongside a mall with lighting and seating.
“Proposed hours of trading were also unreasonable compared to the existing outlets.”
Shire officers recommended the bottle shop be approved subject to appropriate permit conditions. Victoria Police also did not oppose it.
One objection to the application had claimed it would further antagonise the “drug and alcohol problem in Hastings”; that it would lead to “property damage … by alcohol dependent persons” and would lead to alcohol and drug-related waste in the streets.
The objector said they would “like to see [an] increased police presence and alcohol-support service” in the town.
First published in the Western Port News – 17 February 2021
