Brabham gets a liquor store
One of the most recent projects we’ve worked on is Bottle-O Brabham. Working with our client, Rob Nichevich, we were aiming to bring the suburb it’s first liquor store. The liquor store is to form part of a new shopping centre in the heart of Brabham, providing a one stop shop for all residents.
Brabham, as a suburb, is relatively new – only being gazetted back in 2011, as a part of a Government dubbed ‘Urban Growth Corridor’. It has been prized as a great first home and young family suburb, nestling itself in the north west shelf right between Caversham and Swan View.
What made this application work, in our view, was the (1) strong community support for the application received and (2) the focus on locally produced liquor. The added convenience of a liquor store within a shopping centre will nearly always be welcomed, and when the pitch was made to the Brabham community that this store would have a large focus on liquor from the valley and Perth hills, community support only grew stronger.
Liquor store licence applications have become more difficult since a change to the Liquor Control Act last November introduced a new “reasonable requirements” test. BWS have had two liquor store licence applications refused recently at Inglewood and Kelmscott. Commune Wine Store, Maylands was also initially refused.
The same test applies to a new tavern or hotel that wants to sell take-away liquor.
However recent approvals at Brabham and Martin show that in the right circumstances liquor store licences can be approved. The Director of Liquor LIcensing has provided excellent guidance in recent decisions as to what the test is, and what is required to secure a grant of a new liquor store licence.
If you are around living and working around the Brabham area, be sure to keep an eye out!