Halted emergency pandemic powers spell end for hugely popular Waterfront Beach Club
Darwin Waterfront Corporation and government officials are in discussions to reinstate the hugely popular Beach Club initiative, which tourists and locals flocked to during a year soured by the pandemic.
Northern Territory
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DARWIN Waterfront Corporation and government officials are in discussions to reinstate the hugely popular Beach Club initiative, which tourists and locals flocked to during a year soured by the pandemic.
It comes after emergency licence-variation powers, which were instated during the pandemic and inspired initiatives like the Beach Club and driveway musicians, were abruptly halted on Thursday night.
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The Director of Licensing ceased emergency powers which allowed businesses to serve takeaway alcohol as a means of assisting hospitality vendors who lost revenue from the bricks-and-mortar aspect of their business.
Darwin Waterfront Corporation general manager Sam Burke said the concept had proved successful but has been stopped after the Director of Licensing's emergency powers were ceased.
“Unfortunately, this means that locals and tourists will no longer be able to enjoy a cocktail or share a beer against the backdrop of the Waterfront Beach Club and lagoon,” he said.
“The Waterfront Beach Club is an incredibly successful concept, designed around the new takeaway alcohol with food permissions that assisted Waterfront restaurants and cafes in maintaining service during the height of COVID restrictions in the Territory, in a COVID safe environment.”
Mr Burke said he was hopeful it could be reinstated but said it would have to be done under a new licensing arrangement.
“A bigger, relaunched Beach Club was planned for Dry Season 2021,” he said.
“We are working constructively with the Northern Territory Government and our venues to find a solution to bring back the Waterfront Beach Club with takeaway authorities for Dry Season 2021 and beyond.”
Alcohol Policy Minister Natasha Fyles said she was talking with stakeholders to determine how similar schemes could see successful sales
“The Director of Liquor Licensing is an independent statutory authority and it is his prerogative to (cease emergency powers),” she said.
“The director is actively working with those venues that would like to continue serving alcohol on the waterfront.”
Hot Tamale owner David Robinson said the beach Club had proven successful for his Waterfront business and saw real potential behind the licence variations.
“Darwin’s bounced back really well since October, this was the difference between closing doors and keeping them open,” he said.
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“The Northern Territory Government allowed us to stay open with this variation and it allowed us to employ more people because it created an extra job at the time.
”What we saw from the emergency powers was a really progressive change which could be implemented to the liquor act, there weren’t any issues or problems which is great when it’s not something associated with liquor.”
Originally published as Halted emergency pandemic powers spell end for hugely popular Waterfront Beach Club
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