Angst over bottle shop

Community ‘dead against’ proposal

A PROPOSAL for a new bottle shop at a retail complex in Warrane has drawn criticism from community groups and adjoining business owners.

A development application has been lodged with Clarence City Council by proponents Cemcon Developments for an outlet at 14 Edgeworth St.

The proposed tenancy is part of a complex of six shops, which also includes a newsagent, chemist and an op shop run by Hobart City Mission.

In documents submitted to council by All Urban Planning, which has been engaged by the developer, the application is for a change of use for the site, from a shop to a bottle shop.

The tenancy where the bottle shop would operate is understood to currently be vacant. The use would include 108 sqm of floor space plus storage within an existing 35 sqm outbuilding, with no actual development proposed. If approved, the bottle shop would be open from 9am-8pm from Monday to Saturday, and from 10am to 6pm on Sundays and public holidays.

Hobart City Mission chief executive John Stubley said the organisation had concerns about the number of bottle shops including those that were “deep within suburbia”.

“There’s service areas of Eastlands, Mornington, Lindisfarne and Rosny that all have bottle shops,’’ he said.

“As an organisation we have concerns about the availability of substances that can cause harm being too readily available and too easily accessible by people who may be vulnerable.”

The documents lodged with council say the site is zoned local business and was compliant with relevant planning requirements.

“The proposal is consistent with the zone purpose and desired future character statements in that the proposed bottle shop will serve the local community in a convenient location clustered with other local services in an existing local shopping strip,’’ the application read.

But Warrane Mornington Neighbourhood Centre manager Leanne Doherty questioned the need for the outlet, and referencing issues around job security and financial stress, and stories of addictions worsening due to the impacts of coronavirus.

Warrane Newsagency’s long-time owner Bev Shadwick said the response from the community had been clear since the plans were advertised. “Everyone seems to be dead against it,’’ she said.

Cemcon Developments declined to comment. The application is being advertised by council, with representations accepted until August 24. cameron.whiteley@news.com.au