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Incompetence, indifference, or corruption - Liquor Licensing in Yarra

Wed, 2008-02-13 14:01 — Ian Quick

One of the questions I often get asked from residents is "do I think Councilors are 'on the take' from licensees, developers, or local business" - and the reason they suspect that is Councils inaction on many liquor, parking, or planning issues.

I normally reply that I don't know, but to first consider indifference or incompetence ahead of corruption.

Looking specifically at the area of liquor licensing, this council has -

  1. Created (after much prodding) a liquor license advisory group - then ignored every recommendation, and then got rid of it (I was on that committee).
  2. Refused to pass a by-law that would give council the ability to manage the noise from all license premises - arguing that it didn't want to have that ability.
  3. Recently (Dec 2007) voted to NOT prohibit public drinking over night (something the residents, police, traders, and licensees supported!).
  4. Voted to lapse the local law that allows them to prohibit public drinking!
  5. Refuses to provide late night parking restrictions near night clubs - encouraging people to drive to venues and drive home drunk, and impacting residential amenity.
  6. Have down graded the 'public behavior officer' job (that we fought and got years ago) to daytime hours only!
  7. Are now trying to remove the public behavior officer job entirely.
  8. Won't do anything to stop the massive increase in licenses
  9. Won't do anything to stop the increase in 1.30am and later licenses.
  10. Will not enforce the footpath trading policy, and it's provisions that impact licensed premises.

Why are they doing (or not) all of this when the number of liquor licenses has doubled in the last 5 years? When quiet local pubs are turning into night clubs?

I think it is mainly indifference, most councilors have shown no interest in getting involved in liquor licensing issues. In addition, several councilors like (and support) the idea of yarra becoming a night club zone - however I don't believe they are being 'paid' to do this, it's just what they believe.

Unfortunately, the end result is that this council (that we have had since Nov 2004) has not done ONE thing to address any of the issues, while the underlying problems have been getting worse...

Ian