Bottle shop plan opposed

The Australian Leisure and Hospitality Group has applied for planning approval for a proposal on the Como Hotel site that includes demolition of the existing BWS bottle shop and construction of a larger Dan Murphy’s.

The proposal also includes refurbishment of the Como Hotel and an upgrade to the car park.

Last year, the Town Planning Scheme Amendment to rezone a vacant block behind the site to highway commercial was opposed by the community, due to the concept of a larger liquor store replacing the current one.

The council recommended to the Planning Minister that the Scheme Amendment be refused but the decision was overturned and the minister approved the Scheme Amendment earlier this year. ALH Group is now applying for planning approval to build the Dan Murphy’s.

The community has been invited to submit comments on the proposal, which are due this Friday.

Representatives from the Save Como Action Group have been vocal about their concerns and have made it clear they are against the development of the larger liquor store.

Birdwood Avenue resident and group member Barry France said his main concern was the impact a larger liquor store would have on traffic and congestion.

‘South Terrace and Canning Highway are major arteries through the South Perth area,’ he said.

‘Over the last decade, there has been a significant traffic congestion build-up on that intersection.

‘It is already a heavily congested intersection.

‘I usually wait three or four light changes to get through, and that’s without a Dan Murphy’s.’

He added that Dan Murphy’s was a ‘destination’ bottle-shop so it would be drawing people into the suburb.

‘My concern is not only for that intersection, but the flow-on effects to other local roads,’ Mr France said.

South Perth Mayor Sue Doherty said the City could not comment until the assessment of the planning application and results of the community consultation were complete.