Lindt Cafe terror siege site to become a bottle shop

The site of a deadly 16-hour terror siege in Sydney’s Martin Place has been given the green light to transform into a “premium” Dan Murphy’s.

The former Lindt cafe on Friday (main picture), a hostage flees into the arms of police on the night of the siege (inset) and the application from Dan Murphy's (bottom right). Pictures: News Corp/Supplied

The old Lindt Cafe will be turned into a “premium” bottle shop after liquor giant Dan Murphy’s was given the green light to transform the terror siege site.

The independent Liquor and Gaming Authority (ILGA) – a statutory decision-making body of the state government – approved the move despite police concerns about it being a “sensitive area.”

The green light followed the City of Sydney giving its development consent earlier this year for the fit-out and use of the site as a “premium wine store (bottle shop)”.

In publishing its decision last week, ILGA noted a submission from NSW Police that had objected to a liquor outlet at the site “on the basis that the proposed premises is a sensitive area”, a “place of reflection” and that it was “inappropriate for a liquor licence to be issued at the location”.

It noted how police were not opposed to Dan Murphy’s, just the location of its proposed store.

However, ILGA stated that NSW Police has “conceded” that the City of Sydney had approved the location to “trade as a bottle shop”.

Hostages flee from the Lindt Cafe as the 16-hour siege ended in 2014. Picture: Bill Hearne

Endeavour Group, which owns Dan Murphy’s, also declared it had taken all steps possible to respect the victims and survivors of the December 2014 terrorist siege at the site.

On that day lone gunman, Man Haron Monis, held 18 people hostage for 16 hours.

Katrina Watson Dawson died after a lone gunman, Man Haron Monis, held hostage nine customers and eight employees. Picture: AAP

Tori Johnson was shot dead by Monis. Picture: Supplied

Endeavour Group said it had contacted the family members of barrister Katrina Dawson, who died after being hit by police bullet fragments when officers stormed the building, and also those of cafe manager Tori Johnson, 34, who was killed by Monis.

It is understood Endeavour Group had consulted with the family members on what could be incorporated into the design or operations of the store, with their feedback being taken on board.

Conditions for approval include that the shop close for six hours between 3am and 9am, have CCTV, contact police about any incidents and maintain an “incident register”.

The application shows Dan Murphy’s proposes to trade seven days from 9-10pm, and 10-10pm on Sunday.

It is understood Endeavour Group had consulted with the family members of those killed in the siege on what could be incorporated into the design or operations of the Dan Murphy’s. Picture: Supplied

In its decision, ILGA noted how the bottle shop would also trade as a “premium wine store, targeted to wine enthusiasts to discover and experience premium wines” and will be a “boutique operation compared to the typical Dan Murphy’s store”,

Other objectors to the proposed store included a de-identified commercial operator who argued that the location was inappropriate as it was a “historical and memorial area for Sydney” and how they did not want any “intoxicated behaviour” occurring in the location.

Of those supporting the application, one member said Sydney needed a premises such as Dan Murphy’s with the proposed bottle shop adding “character and value” to the city centre.

An ILGA spokeswoman acknowledged that many people in the community had not forgotten the December 2014 siege “and consider the site of the former Lindt cafe to be a place of reflection”.

“The Authority is satisfied that the applicant has behaved appropriately and respectfully given the context and consulted directly with the families of the two people who lost their lives,” she said.

“After much consideration, the Authority agreed that the Dan Murphy’s proposal was in line with the retail character in the area, did not increase the density of packaged liquor outlets in the CBD, and demonstrated appropriate harm mitigation strategies.”