Need to see the big picture

The lot, owned by Australian Leisure and Hospitality Group is currently vacant and zoned residential.

ALHG wishes the lot to be re-zoned to Highway Commercial so they can use the land as additional car parking for the Como Hotel.

ALHG had also advised they were considering replacing the existing bottle shop with a Dan Murphy’s liquor store; however no development drawings have been submitted and is not part of re-zoning the vacant lot.

It was close to standing room only at last week’s agenda briefing as three people presented deputations against the rezoning, including a town planner based in Melbourne who said there was no evidence that the rezoning was needed.

He said there was no pressing imperative to rezone unless it was to facilitate a major commercial development.

A planning consultant representing ALHG said they did plan to upgrade the tavern and that development plans were not limited to a liquor store.

Councillors asked City officers if they should be considering the possible future use of the space and potential of the Dan Murphy’s when considering the report tonight, but City officers said they had not received a development application for a Dan Murphy’s so it was premature to consider a potential future development.