New liquor store approved

A BOTTLE shop, and an associated reduction in car parking spaces, have been approved by Moorabool Shire council at its latest meeting.

An application for a Dan Murphy’s liquor store came before Council at its 21 March Development Assessment Committee, with Council planners recommending the application be approved subject to conditions.

Fourteen objections were submitted against the proposal, with complaints including the number of bottle shops within the vicinity, lack of variety in local retail offerings, the removal of car parking spaces and lack of access for maxi taxis, and the health and social problems caused by the availability of alcohol including packaged liquor.

The store is to be located at Lot 1, 176 Main Street, Bacchus Marsh – in other words, next to the Bennett Street car park at The Village Shopping Centre.

Under the application’s terms, 10 existing car parking spaces will be converted to short term 20-minute car parking spaces, with two existing spaces to be removed to facilitate three “direct to boot” car parking spaces.

A further two car parking spaces will be removed to facilitates “improvements to pedestrian safety and access through the car park”.

The application was approved five votes to one, with Cr David Edwards the sole voter against the application.

Cr Tom Sullivan was not present for the vote.