Perth Voice Interactive

BAYSWATER council staff recommend rejection of a $3.5 million Woolworths’ makeover of the Peninsula Tavern in Maylands.

The final decision will rest with a local development assessment panel, not the council. Most members of the DAP are not elected.

The development application for the Railway Parade pub and bottleshop includes a 743sqm Dan Murphy’s outlet, courtyards and family-style bistro, 123 car bays and two-storey offices above the liquor store.

Council staff say the proposal affects amenity and doesn’t comply with the town planning scheme.

Last year unelected planning authorities overrode council objections to approve a Coles Liquorland on Guildford Road, but that ultimately fell over when the WA liquor commission refused to grant a liquor licence on the grounds the 1250sqm outlet might harm “at-risk” people by providing access to plentiful cheap booze.

Maylands is home to community-based services that support people with alcohol-related issues, including 55 Central, Bulup Kulung Hostel, Derbal Didjar Hostel and Shopfront.

Council staff fear Woolworths’ plans for the hotel pose a similar risk, despite being about half the size.

Maylands Labor MP Lisa Baker opposed the Coles plan but backs Woolies’ proposal, saying it modernises what’s already there.

“While I do not support developing new large ‘destination liquor outlets’ that promote cheap discounted grog and have been shown to encourage street drinking and anti-social behaviour, the site under application is already a tavern with a drive-thru bottle shop,” she says.

Maylands Residents and Ratepayers Association president Roger Tomlins has mixed feelings.

“The proposal is better than what we have, but it does not appear to be something that would attract families as a destination bistro and the quality of the proposed building looks cheap compared to the Old Peninsula Hotel next door,” he says. “At least the liquor shop proposed is half what Coles proposed.

“Personally I’m tired of the present tavern and would like to see the area freshened up.”

by STEPHEN POLLOCK