Three bottleshops on its main street have proved enough for Helensburgh.
On Monday, 30 May in a letter to stakeholders, the NSW Independent Liquor & Gaming Authority announced it had refused an application by Coles-owned Liquorland that could have resulted in four bottleshops operating on Walker Street.
On Monday afternoon, Neighbourhood Forum 1 convenor Warwick Erwin said the decision was a win for the 2508 community.
"Little Helensburgh (and the rest of 2508) stood up for what the community wanted and took on money greedy Coles," he said.
The controversial application for a packaged liquor licence for Liquorland Helensburgh generated a big response, including hundreds of written submissions and a public meeting in April attended by about 100 people (read 'Community rallies against Liquorland').
Coles – which applied for the packaged liquor licence in July 2021 – had showed its "true colours", Mr Erwin said.
"Coles are not a community citizen, certainly not either a good community or corporate citizen. If they were they would have withdrawn their application before it got this far. Coles have treated the local community with distaste and they will never recover from the way they are treating this community.
"This community comes together and collectively fights for what the community stands for. Work with and for the community and they support you. Work against the community and they will fight you.
"This has been a win for the community by the community."
In a statement titled "It's a No for Another Helensburgh Bottle'o" on Tuesday, the Independent Liquor & Gaming Authority’s chairperson, Philip Crawford, said the authority had received about 300 public submissions.
“Submissions from members of the public and representatives of the community are examined along with factors such as population data, crime and health statistics and per capita alcohol availability," he said.
“The Authority gave much consideration to this application and ultimately concluded that granting the licence would not be in the public interest, in that it would not satisfy the needs and expectations of the local community.”
ILGA's letter to stakeholders said: "The reasons for the authority’s decision will be set out in a statement of reasons which will be published on the Liquor & Gaming NSW website in due course. Submitters will be notified once the statement of reasons has been published."
The applicant’s final submission has been published on the Liquor & Gaming NSW website.
Dated 20 May, Coles' final submission said there was "clear evidence of locally based support" for its Liquorland Helensburgh application. "Further, there is also clear evidence that those who support the Application feel intimidated and reluctant to participate other than on condition of an anonymity."
ILGA's letter notes that the applicant may apply to the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal for an administrative review within 28 days of the statement of reasons for the Authority’s decision being published on the Liquor & Gaming NSW website.
