[Greens-Media] NSW Upper House raises concerns over ALDI supermarket liquor licence proposal

[John Kaye]

NSW Upper House raises concerns over ALDI supermarket liquor licence
proposal 
 
Media release: 17 October 2012
 
This morning the NSW Upper House unanimously supported a Greens motion
(see below for motion) recognising the Mt Hutton community concerns
around ALDI's application for a packaged liquor licence at its existing
supermarket.
 
Greens NSW MP John Kaye, who moved the motion, said: "In May this year,
members of the Legislative Council opposed a proposal by Woolworths for
a BWS bottle shop in the same suburb.
 
"Today the NSW Upper House has once again recognised the overwhelming
research findings that high density packaged liquor outlets contribute
to alcohol-related violence.
 
"An additional outlet like the one proposed for the Mt Hutton ALDI
supermarket would almost certainly add to the existing rate of
alcohol-related violence in the area.
 
"The NSW Upper House was also critical of the way the process has
compromised the community's ability to raise objections.
 
"The community has been effectively locked out of the decision-making. 
Lake Macquarie Council has no say, having already approved the
supermarket without the liquor outlet.
 
"ALDI have been put on notice. The NSW Upper House, the Office of
Liquor, Gaming and Racing and residents have all raised concerns about
the impacts of yet another packaged liquor licence on communities like
Mt Hutton.
 
"The Greens call on ALDI to listen to the community and withdraw its
application immediately. 
 
"The Greens will continue to campaign for the decision on the
application to be put on hold until the results of the Office of Liquor,
Gaming and Racing study examining the impacts of clustering of licensed
premises and liquor outlets are made public. The decision-making process
must be amended to allow the community an opportunity to be engaged in
the consultation," said Dr Kaye. 
 
For more information:       John Kaye 0407 195 455
 
Motion moved by Dr Kaye and unanimously supported in the NSW
Legislative Council 17 October 2012
 
1. That this House notes that the supermarket chain ALDI has applied
for a Packaged Liquor Licence for their existing supermarket in Mount
Hutton that is located within 100 metres of Mount Hutton Public School.
 
2. That this House notes that:
 
(a) the Office of Liquor, Gaming and Racing has commissioned research
into the social and economic impacts of liquor licence density but the
research is yet to be completed,

(b) existing research, including that which is quoted by NSW Bureau of
Crime Statistics and Research, indicates that:
(i) the existing high density of packaged liquor outlets is a
contributory factor to the high rate of alcohol-related violence in
areas such as the Lake Macquarie suburbs of Mt Hutton, Windale and
Gateshead,
(ii) an additional outlet would almost certainly add to the existing
rate of alcohol-related violence,
 
(c) this House opposed an earlier proposal by Woolworths for a Packaged
Liquor licence for a BWS store in a similar location in Mount Hutton and
that the organised campaign of the local community highlighted the
negative health and social impacts of another alcohol outlet in the
area,
(d) the same serious concerns raised against the BWS apply equally to
the ALDI proposal, including matters expressed by NSW Health, and
(e) the community’s ability to raise objections to this application was
compromised by the lack of a Lake Macquarie Council determination of the
matter as the Council has already approved the supermarket without the
liquor outlet.