East Perth convenience store wins SAT appeal to extend trading hours

THE struggle over the fate of an East Perth shop continues, with the owner of Glory X-Press claiming victory at the State Administrative Tribunal (SAT).

Jordan Qaraleh, owner of the Terrace Road convenience store, told Guardian Express his business would soon be able to operate between 6am and midnight, seven days a week, after a decision in the SAT.

Mr Qaraleh took the matter to the SAT after Perth Council rejected his application for increased operating hours in November last year.

“We won the case, but it cost us a lot; I had to spend $25,000,” he said.

“The council knew I would win easily in court. I don’t know why they didn’t understand that and pushed me into using the court. I lost a lot of money.”

Mr Qaraleh said the owner of the building has been sympathetic to his situation but had also suffered as a result of the City’s opposition.

“I have been late with the rent but the owner understands what happened between me and the council,” he said.

A spokesman for the City of Perth said the City provided a draft consent order to Mr Qaraleh’s lawyers last month.

“The City is yet to receive correspondence from the applicant’s lawyers,” he said. “The City is unable to disclose further information publicly, as the matter is still before the SAT.”

The spokesman said that throughout the process, the City had been “focused on reaching a suitable outcome for residents, small business and visitors to the City”.

The matter was discussed as a confidential item at a recent Perth Council meeting.

In November, the council received a petition with 123 signatures in favour of Mr Qaraleh’s application for increased hours and an alfresco dining area. A petition with 48 signatures against the application was submitted by Kerry Fletcher, a resident at the complex on 90 Terrace Road.

At the time, Mr Qaraleh told Guardian Express he had spent $80,000 in legal fees fighting to open his business at all nine months earlier.