By CASEY NEILL
A NEW Dandenong South liquor outlet could hurt public health in already struggling suburbs.
City of Greater Dandenong councillor Matthew Kirwan was among four councillors who voted against allowing a bottle shop at a Woolworths supermarket in the Estate One precinct on Princes Highway.
Six councillors voted in favour of the store, which Cr Kirwan argued would adversely affect Doveton and Eumemmerring residents.
“This is an unusual application because while in Greater Dandenong, it is mostly residents of Doveton and Eumemmerring in the neighbouring City of Casey that will potentially be affected by it,” he said.
“I don’t think that reduces our responsibility.”
Cr Kirwan said the council report on the proposal did not mention that there was a Dan Murphy’s close by, in addition to the licenced Hogs Breath Cafe and Chifley Hotel Doveton within 500 metres.
“Doveton and Eumemmerring are very disadvantaged areas – Doveton has been reported to be the poorest suburb in Melbourne – and in my view does not need another packaged liquor outlet nearby,” he said.
He said that the City of Casey in 2011 found that there were too many liquor outlets in the area and “that another one may encourage the misuse and abuse of alcohol and could be detrimental to public health”.
But Cr Angela Long said this outlet was suitably located.
“There’s no residential area, it’s all industrial,” she said.
Cr John Kelly said the store met state and council planning provisions.
“We don’t have an option, really, to refuse this,” he said.
“It even meets our own alcohol management policy.”
Crs Sampey, Brown, Truong and O’Reilly also supported the proposal. Crs Tak, Memeti and Chea joined Cr Kirwan in opposition.
The council report on the proposal said granting the permit was “not considered to result in adverse amenity impacts on the neighbouring surrounds”.
“No liquor will be permitted to be consumed within the premises or in the public domain,“ it said.
“All staff members will be required to have appropriate Responsible Service of Alcohol certificate.”
