By Belinda Nolan
BRIMBANK residents are calling for greater restrictions on liquor licensing as anger grows over plans to open a bottle shop across the road from a secondary school.
Residents were outraged last week after it was revealed a new bottle shop was given the green light to open on Glengala Rd, just metres from Sunshine College.
In December last year the Director of Liquor Licensing granted Sunshine North resident Quyen Chi Huynh permission to open an independent bottle shop at 289A Glengala Rd in Sunshine West.
Anxious residents have expressed alarm over the plan, which they claim could have negative social impacts on the area.
The new shop will join around nine other licensed liquor outlets which already exist along a three-kilometre stretch of Glengala Rd.
Residents have called for greater control of liquor outlets after it was revealed there were no laws to restrict the number of venues in a particular area.
Sunshine West resident Larissa Stewart said she had been shocked to learn of the plans, after seeing a public notice in the shop window last week.
“I thought there must be some mistake because it’s a completely inappropriate place for a bottle shop,” Ms Stewart said.
“It’s right across the road from a school.”
Ms Stewart said she feared the bottle shop would pose an unacceptable safety risk to schoolchildren.
“We all know what traditionally happens around bottle shops in the area,” Ms Stewart said.
“You get drunks hanging out the front of them heckling people who pass by, sometimes becoming violent.
“Is that a good atmosphere for our children?”
Ms Stewart said she there should be a policy to restrict the placing of licensed outlets near schools, due to possible social impacts.
“Surely there’s got to be some way to stop this,” Ms Stewart said.
“Someone’s got to be accountable.
“These are our kids and we as a community have to protect them.”
Sunshine resident Garry Collins said he was disgusted by the plan and urged the council to step in.
“Public drinking is already a massive problem in the area,” Mr Collins said.
“I can’t believe that the council would allow a bottle shop to open near a school.
“Anyone would know that alcohol and children are not a good mix.”
Stephen Sully, Brimbank Council’s General Manager of City Development said the Department of Justice had referred the application to the council but the council had not objected.
“Council advised the Department of Justice that there was no requirement for a planning permit and did not provide further comment on the proposal on amenity grounds,” Mr Sully said.
But he said the council was currently reviewing the process of considering liquor licensing to address social impact and monitor the number of packaged outlets.
