North Shore Times (New Zealand)
Residents quash second liquor store
Residents are calling the withdrawal of an application for a second liquor store in Rothesay Bay a win-win.
Auckland Council received an application for the off-licence, housed in a new housing and retail development, on July 6.
However, Auckland Council alcohol licensing manager Rob Abbott says there were 127 objections - made up of a petition signed by 95 people, and a further 32 objections.
He says initially there was some dispute around the position of the public notice on display. The notice was moved and the public objection period was extended.
Paul Shipman, who lives a fiveminute walk from the row of shops, says the community felt strongly about the application.
‘‘There already is an existing business there and it’s been well established. The most important point is a social point. That is, there are a lot of schools nearby, this is a major thoroughfare.’’
Shipman says it would have been a bad influence to have two liquor stores within 30 metres of each other in an area where there are so many children.
‘‘I think it would be deleterious on the neighbourhood.’’
The existing store, The Wine Barrell, has been on the site since the early 1990s and Shipman says a second liquor store just wouldn’t be necessary.
‘‘Even in a village like Mairangi Bay, the fact [is] they have so much draw and so many people going through and they still only have one liquor store.’’
A second nearby resident, who wants to remain anonymous, says there is barely enough business for one liquor store in ‘‘sleepy Rothesay Bay’’, let alone two.
He says the development, which includes 27 apartments and 12 commercial and retail spaces, will also put pressure on the suburb’s already limited parking.
The website 585rothesay.co.nz showcases the apartments and 585retail.co.nz has details on the commercial and retail spaces. The 585retail.co.nz website shows nine of the 12 retail spaces as still available and the 585rothesay.co.nz website shows most of the apartments in the 2400 square metre site have been sold. The real estate agent’s website says the apartments are due for completion this month.
The developer did not want to comment, and a phone number for the liquor licence applicant, YMP Enterprises, could not be found.