Liquorland withdraws, residents celebrate

Liquorland has abandoned plans to set up shop in an Auckland suburb after outraged residents rallied against it.

Epsom business owners and residents were preparing for a legal battle against Liquorland after they revealed plans to set up a bottle store on Manukau Rd in Greenwoods Corner.

More than 120 objection letters were sent to the Auckland Council Licensing Unit after a story ran in the Central Leader (Epsom residents rally against Liquorland, June 21).

Liquorland, in a surprise move, announced it had given up on their bid - a week after the public objection period closed.

‘‘When we got the news we were all shocked,’’ Joy Stirling says.

The Greenwoods Corner Business Association chair had expected residents would be heading into a lengthy court case before the decision was made.

Instead everyone is breathing a sigh of relief, Stirling says.

The agent for the store’s applicant said there was ‘‘a clear indication from the community that the proposed store [was] not wanted in the area’’. As a result, the applicant ‘‘listened to the community and accordingly withdraws the application for a licence’’, the agent says.

Alcohol Healthwatch director Rebecca Williams says while the result is positive, it is not a common occurrence.

‘‘We have horrific cases where communities have tried to oppose the move with significant evidence against it but have not won at all,’’ she says.

‘‘It’s a bit heartbreaking for communities around the country to see someone withdraw while other applicants will not.’’

Williams says the Greenwoods Corner community demonstrated strong opposition towards the offlicence store entering their neighbourhood.