The IGA is opposite the Grand Promenade Reserve, which is used by sporting teams for junior cricket, as well as a myriad of everyday people using a park, as it should be.
I hand-delivered a letter to the council stating my disbelief that they would consider approving the licence, based on the fact that the liquor store will be over the road from a sporting reserve.
Living opposite the Grand Promenade Reserve, during the warmer months we would call both the police and the council security service, sometime every day, to attend to issues relating to the effects of alcohol, including swearing, fighting at all times of the day and night and music from their cars blaring all day and night.
Get in front of tomorrow's news for FREE
Journalism for the curious Australian across politics, business, culture and opinion.
READ NOWI also requested that they verify with the police the number of calls they have logged to attend the Grand Promenade Reserve, not to mention the number of people who take their children away as fast as possible to avoid the scene unfolding before everyone’s eyes.
Allowing a liquor store to sell alcohol opposite a park that is already inundated with the effects of alcohol abuse is in our opinion irresponsible and unfair to all the residents who have to deal with the situation.
The groups of people who are responsible for the problems, after they have caused the mayhem, then up and leave the park littered with rubbish, alcohol cans/bottles, dirty nappies left in the sandpit, which is then cleaned up by the people who live around the park.
Our property has been egged and grafittied, as well as rocks thrown at our windows, all a direct result of my attempting to deal with the anti-social behaviour.
Will the council cover the cost of our increasing insurance premiums, as they will surely increase as the effects of the alcohol abuse will increase with the proximity to the park of the liquor licence.
The notice that was placed out the front of the IGA was a small sign approximately 50cm by 30cm advising of the application.
Many residents who I have discussed this matter with and who have also stated their disbelief that the council would consider approving a liquor licence, did not even notice the sign to lodge a complaint.
The council seems to put monetary value above the safety and wellbeing of their ratepayers.