By PETER DOUGLAS AND JESSE GRAHAM
YARRA Ranges Shire Council has paved the way for Montrose IGA to relocate its packaged liquor store to a larger main street location.
At its meeting, council unanimously passed an application that will see a stand-alone IGA liquor store open at 924 Mount Dandenong Tourist Road, despite objections from the community.
Objectors’ key concerns over the application included community safety, anti-social behaviour among youth and the visual prominence of the location.
However, some councillors believed there was a strong case for the location shift.
Cr Len Cox, whose Walling ward includes Montrose, said the decision would have benefits for local consumers.
“The … advantage with this is the applicant plans to enlarge the grocery section for the existing supermarket, which will make it more cosy again for shoppers,” Cr Cox said.
In addition, Cr Cox noted the applicants believed the larger independent store would be beneficial for local producers, because the regions’ liquor products would be better showcased.
Cr Cox played down concerns over negative social impacts.
“With any application for a licensed premises … there is always a lot of angst from sections of the community and I understand that,” Cr Cox said.
“However, it’s not normally caused by retail bottle shop actions, but the pubs and nightclubs where there are a large number of people.
“There’s usually a late night when people would drink to excess.
“For the life of me, I can’t see how a bigger premises is going to cause more social issues than the current one.”
Cr Cox said police had not reported any major drinking problems in and around the Montrose shopping centre.
Cr Cox’s position gained support from Cr Jim Child.
“I think it’s the appropriate building and it’s right in the middle of the shopping centre,” he said.
“For mine, it gives a good use of that type of building for that type of business.”
At the council meeting, an objector addressed council to cite theirs and others’ concerns.
One issue raised was that a walkway runs up the side of the new premises, which is used by children on bikes.
The concern is they would not be expecting an increase in deliveries and vehicles.
Others included the size and scale of the shop.
Did council make the right decision? Let us know and email editor@mailnewsgroup.com.au.
