Independent Member for Alfred Cove Dr Janet Woollard is raising community concerns regarding plans for a new liquor store within the Melville Plaza Shopping area in Bicton.

“Members of the community are upset that a liquor store may open at Melville Plaza if a license application submitted to the Department of Racing, Gaming and Liquor is approved,” said Dr Woollard.

“They question the need for another liquor store when there are already two large bottle shops and a tavern operating within a few hundred metres of Melville Plaza. In addition, there are two bottle shops operating within the suburbs of Palmyra and Bicton.”

Dr Woollard said that while there are no restrictions under the Liquor Licensing Act 1988 on the number of liquor stores that can operate in a specific area, the applicant must satisfy the Director-General of Liquor Licensing that the proposed store is in the community’s best interests.

“Given that the other stores are within 500m of the proposed one, many of the community would be disappointed if the license is granted,” Dr Woollard said.

“I have written to the Hon Terry Waldron MLA, Minister for Racing and Gaming, to ask that the Department look into curbing the number of liquor stores and licenses in a particular area.

“Studies conducted in Australia have found links between the availability of alcohol in a particular area and the level of alcohol-related problems such as assaults and traffic accidents.”

Dr Woollard said restricting the number of alcohol licenses within geographical boundaries should therefore be considered if alcohol-related problems are to be minimised.

“I am urging the community to step forward and make their concerns known to the Department of Racing, Gaming and Liquor if they are unhappy about the presence of yet another liquor store in the Bicton-Palmyra area.”