Perth Voice Interactive

A redeveloped $3.5 million Maylands Peninsula Tavern—which includes a bigger Dan Murphy’s liquor barn—looks set to be approved despite the opposition of Bayswater city council, hundreds of ratepayers, the local MP and a planning assessment panel.

The latest version of the Railway Parade pub and bottleshop proposal includes a 942sqm Dan Murphy’s outlet, courtyards and family-style bistro, 95 car bays and two-storey offices above the liquor store.

The store is 199sqm bigger than specified in the initial application.

The bottleshop element proved unpopular with both the council and Maylands Ratepayers’ and Residents’ Association, which say access to cheap grog contributes to anti-social problems throughout the district.

The council and the local development assessment panel have already rejected the tavern proposal on planning grounds but the developer appealed to the unelected but powerful state administrative tribunal. The SAT has directed the local DAP to reconsider its rejection.

Maylands Labor MP Lisa Baker, who will attend the DAP hearing this week, says access to cheap alcohol is bad for the community and nearby agencies such as Shopfront, Autumn Centre and 55 Central, whose services tackle the impacts of alcoholism. “There is no doubt Woolworths has heard community outcry that a massive ‘lowest liquor guarantee’ vendor is unwelcome in Maylands,” she says.

But despite the “clear community concern” the grocery and liquor giant seems intent on ramming its application through.

“The latest proposal from Woolworths includes an even bigger discount liquor store and comes after multiple rounds of mediation.”

Ratepayers and residents association president Roger Tomlins says the tavern could lead to a raft of competitors wanting to muscle in for their slice of market share.

“This area has 15 liquor outlets within a 2km radius and four centres supporting people with alcohol problems,” he wrote.

“We feel that should this development be approved then it will set a precedent and Coles will put forward a new development proposal for its Guildford Road site to include a modified First Choice discounted liquor store.”

by STEPHEN POLLOCK