Hotel set for green light

By Marc McGowan
CASEY Council looks set to pave the way for the proposed Lynbrook Hotel to be built after a decade of planning setbacks.
Mayfield Ward councillor Kevin Bradford said he would support a council officer’s recommendation that the council withdraws its liquor licence objection affecting the proposed hotel, at the 19 February meeting.
The council objected to the hotel’s liquor licence application to Liquor Licensing Victoria in 2006.
The objection was based on councillors’ concerns a venue serving alcohol would have detrimental impacts on the neighbourhood.
Since then a solicitor for the hotel’s developer has written to council requesting it withdraw the objection on the grounds a hotel would benefit the Lynbrook community that is now more populous than in 1998 when the permit was granted.
The hotel’s licence application covers alcohol served inside the premises and sold from its planned liquor outlet.
The objection has so far put a stop to the developer’s plans to build the new hotel, which under its permit must be completed before 2010.
Last year the council approved 55 pokie machines at the venue after a similar debate.
Cr Bradford said Lynbrook would be an appropriate venue for residents to meet and socialise.
“I think it is another piece of the puzzle in creating a complete community within a community,” he said.
“Lynbrook is a fantastic area and (the Lynbrook Hotel is) an excellent addition to the existing shopping centre.
“Now all we need to do is keep pushing for a railway overpass and railway station.”
But Cr Bradford is apprehensive about several matters in regards to the development.
“I do have concerns about additional pokie machines going into this area in light of the state government caps that have been introduced,” he said.
“I also have problems with having another packaged liquor outlet that is now going to open up in the southern part of the City of Casey.
“It’s unfortunate that due to the current state planning laws, councils are unable to separate packaged liquor outlets from a simple planning application, but that’s something I’m looking into.”