Council aims at pub with no beer

By Alison Noonan
CASEY Council fears serving alcohol at the proposed Lynbrook Hotel could be a licence for trouble.
Council last week advised Liquor Licensing Victoria that it would not support an application for a liquor licence to the South Gippsland Highway hotel.
Planning manager Bob Baggio said granting a liquor licence would detract from the amenity of the area and lead to greater security problems, vandalism and safety concerns.
Mr Baggio said the venue’s isolated industrial location and limited community surveillance could lead to undesirable and unsupervised behaviour both on the premises and the nearby business area.
“The type of premises and location is in sharp contrast to the alternative, smaller venues near residential and activity centres where other extended hours uses exist and which have less potential for the misuse and abuse of alcohol because of passive surveillance,” Mr Baggio said.
He said a liquor licence at the Lynbrook Hotel would detract from the many licensed facilities already located in Hampton Park. Cranbourne has 32 licensed premises while there are 11 in Hampton Park.
Mr Baggio said council also was concerned the hotel proposal would result in the loss of employment zoned land.
He said council was trying to protect existing employment zoned land from inappropriate development.
The hotel has been plagued with difficulties in recent months.
Council rejected an application for 80 gaming machines and refused to extend the planning permit for construction.