Perth Voice Interactive

So it’s God versus Woolworths—and Woolies is winning.

A Maylands reverend has joined forces with Labor MP Lisa Baker and other concerned locals to try to stop the grog and grocery giant getting a liquor licence for its Dan Murphy’s booze barn on Railway Parade.

Bayswater city council and a planning assessment panel both knocked back plans for the revamped $3.5 million Maylands Peninsula Tavern—including a 942sqm bottleshop—after locals expressed concern about the effect of cheap liquor on local troublemakers.

However, the unelected but powerful bureaucrats that comprise the state administrative tribunal ordered the assessment panel to reconsider its decision and, lo and behold, the development was then passed—with a few minor concessions.

Rev Chris Albany from the nearby St Luke’s Church, which hosts local AA meetings, says it’s in the wrong place.

“The last thing that the Maylands area needs is a large discount liquor store,” he says. “The area houses services for people who have had alcohol problems in the past, and it’s a mainly residential area.

“That’s not to say that people shouldn’t have access to cheaper liquor, but a more appropriate place would be a large commercial precinct, such as the Morley Galleria.”

Rev Albany says a smaller tavern at the hotel could actually be of great benefit to the community, particularly if a family-friendly atmosphere was created: “It can be a great gathering place and where people can mingle and socialise—which people complain there aren’t enough places at the moment.”

Ms Baker says the commission offers the last hope to stop the plan. She hopes to appear before it and plead the community’s case. Last year she spearheaded a campaign that stopped Coles building a similar outlet on Guildford Road.

Maylands is home to a number of agencies, including Shopfront, Autumn Centre and 55 Central, that tackle the impact of alcoholism.

by STEPHEN POLLOCK and STEVE GRANT