Mosman Dan Murphy’s: residents object to extended trading hour plan

Mosman locals are up in arms about a plan to extend the service of a Dan Murphy’s, labelling it as disruptive. However, store bosses say they’re just doing what customers have asked for.

Residents in Mosman’s town centre have a new battle on their hands in the form of an extended trading hour application by liquor giant Dan Murphy’s.

Increased traffic, noise and potential anti-social behaviour are among concerns flagged by neighbours in response to plans for the Military Rd outlet to open its doors for an extra two hours each day.

Dan Murphy’s, which currently operates to 7pm and 6pm on Sundays at the site, said the extra trading hours would meet customer demand and enable time-strapped locals to shop during the busy week.

The store would open to 9pm Monday to Saturday and 8pm on Sunday under the proposal.

Residents in three neighbouring buildings have joined forces to oppose the plan including retired real estate agent Karen Wiltshire whose ground floor unit fronts onto the rear of the store.

Ms Wiltshire said while two extra trading hours might not sound much on paper, it could leave surrounding residents with no daylight hours without disturbances.

“9pm may not sound that late but the issue is Mosman is still a village and that’s why we chose to live here,” she said.

“My garden apartment is immediately opposite the store and we’re already putting up with a lot of noise and traffic from the click and collect service and the delivery trucks that come and go.

The store opened its doors in 2017.

“Because of the size of the trucks, they can’t get into the loading dock so they unload in the laneway – when I’m looking out the window or I’m outside in my garden the trucks completely block the sightline. It’s like staring out at a blank canvas.

“If it were to extend to 9pm residents whose balconies face on to the store would be left with no waking hours that are peaceful.”

Fellow neighbour Michael Pieterse has also objected, saying customers were often seen idling in the laneway as they wait for click and collect deliveries to be brought to vehicles.

He said extending hours could exacerbate the issue and believes the pick-up service in the laneway should be “shut down” altogether.

A photo taken by residents showing alcohol pick-up in the street.

Potential social impacts are another sticking point among neighbours with some questioning the need for the extending trading hours.

Ms Wiltshire pointed to Liquor and Gaming data which shows Mosman’s hospitalisation rate from alcohol currently stands at 985.9 per 100,000 residents – almost double the 513.2 state average.

“There’s a constant issue of young kids drinking too much in the area. You see them buying grog, going to the oval to drink too much, and doing whatever else they do,” she said.

“We have eight liquor stores in Mosman – why do we need to extend any more of their hours?”

In a statement, Dan Murphy’s said it was committed to “continuing to work with residents to minimise any noise or disruption from the store.”

“Customers at our Dan Murphy’s Mosman have for some time now been asking us to keep the store open longer, so we have applied to extend the trading hours,” a spokeswoman said.

“The proposed trading hours are similar to other bottle shops in Mosman, and would help us meet the needs of local customers.

“All stores across the Dan Murphy’s network aspire to be valued members of their local communities, and we are committed to listening to and engaging with the communities we serve.”

A photo of a residents protest against the original development application for the store back in 2016.

It is not the first time residents have rallied against a Dan Murphy’s in Mosman after the retailer was subject to a long-running planning battle in its bid to establish the outlet back in 2016

It was ultimately given the green light after lodging an appeal to the Land and Environment Court. 

The Mosman Daily understands deliveries to store would remain in line with current conditions and restrictions of the store

Acoustic engineers would also be appointed to measure general noise levels

A Mosman Council spokeswoman said any impacts would be considered by the private certifier of the application as part of the modification application.

The proposal is under assessment by the Independent Liquor & Gaming Authority.