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Council approves East Perth microbrewery despite concerns

Giovanni TorreEastern Reporter

PERTH Council approved a microbrewery for Brown Street, East Perth on Tuesday night despite a groundswell of local opposition.

The Bright Tank Brewing Co received the green light despite locals raising concerns from the gallery and through written questions to council.

Paul Anderson asked why the microbrewery required a tavern licence.

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Domenica Giancola told council she was worried about increased traffic in Brown and Glyde streets.

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Tony Ransom, who said he had been calling for more street lighting in the area for years, asked if the lighting could be improved before the venue opens, “so that you can at least see what you’re being attacked by”.

The City’s planning committee imposed a range of conditions on the proposal, including restricted opening hours; the applicants producing a management plan for noise, behaviour, smoking arrangements, and the procedure for addressing complaints; and music volume being limited to “levels where normal conversations can occur”.

Twenty-two objections were received including one from the Housing Authority, which manages apartments at 90-94 Brown Street.

Councillor Judy McEvoy said she had considered the concerns raised by residents but had to look at the planning rules in an impartial way.

“With the many conditions imposed by the City, this (microbrewery) will be an appropriate development for the site,” she said.

Cr Reece Harley said he was troubled by the parking implications of the plan, and echoed public concerns about green space, lighting and hooning.

He said the proposal was in keeping with the rules and would be approved by State Administrative Tribunal if the City rejected it.

Cr Jemma Green said the microbrewery would operate as a restaurant but have a tavern licence so it could sell kegs on a take-away basis.

Lord Mayor Lisa Scaffidi said she was a concerned resident about a similar proposal 20 years ago but her fears about that tavern proved unfounded.

Councillors roundly agreed that with strictly enforced conditions, the microbrewery was appropriate for the area and unanimously voted to approve the application.