Paddington wine bar Notwasted blocked by independent Liquor & Gaming Authority

The owner of a new wine bar planned in the elegant suburb of Paddington is weighing up his options after the proposal generated dozens of objections from neighbours.

A long term Paddington local has been blocked from opening a boutique wine bar in the well-to-do suburb after the plans sparked dozens of objections from nearby residents and homeowners.

The independent Liquor & Gaming Authority has rejected a proposal for a boutique wine shop and bar called ‘Notwasted’ due to concerns it would cause a “detrimental” impact on the community.

The plans included turning a former clothes shop at 58 William St into a “socially responsible” wine bar and bottle shop specialising in organic, ethical and natural wines from independent and small-scale producers, as well as a selection of craft beers.

The $165,000 development was approved by Woollahra Council in May but owner Elliot Scali needed the independent Liquor & Gaming Authority to approve a liquor licence application in order to operate the venue.

The proposal sparked 63 submissions from residents with many objections centred on potential impacts such as traffic, noise, “anti-social behaviour”, the volume of music, drunken patrons potentially vandalising homes and urinating on private and public property.

Elliot Scali, pictured at the site which he hoped to turn into a wine bar and shop.

Independent Liquor & Gaming Authority deputy chair Murray Smith, in his recent decision, took into account the “significant community concern” and the “potential detrimental impact” the bar could have on the local amenity.

“If the licence is granted, there is a risk that the liquor sold at the proposed premises would exacerbate the existing alcohol-related problems in the community and, over time, contribute to an increase in alcohol-related crime, health and other social and amenity issues in the local and broader communities,” Mr Smith said.

A photo of the current site.

Mr Scali said the venue was never intended to be a full scale bar and would have served as an extension of his home-based business, which currently sells wine made by organic and biodynamic producers.

“We didn't think it wasn’t going to be a popularity contest and didn’t know we had to drum up huge amounts of evidence to counter the negative submissions – that wasn’t prescribed to us as part of the process,” he said.

“The decision is very disappointing and we think it’s depriving the community of variety. The plan was for a small bar and wine shop, not a large scale venue.

“I’ve always understood neighbour concerns and I empathise with them but we had a plan of management to address any issues that could have occurred. We thought it would have brought a lot of vibrancy to the area.”

The independent Liquor & Gaming Authority’s decision to reject the proposal also took into account the high number of liquor outlets in Paddington compared to the NSW average, as well as incidents of alcohol-related assaults in the area.

The store was met with further objections from NSW Police which claimed the venue was “not suitable” at the site due to impacts including “disturbances to the local community”.

Will Mrongovius, president of The Paddington Society, said the group was also opposed to development.

“A wine bar operating daily well into the evening outside the hours of the current low-key mix of commercial day use and residential does not contribute to nor belong to character of

William St,” he said.

The development would have involved turning the former clothes shop into a small bar.

Liquor and Gaming said the development could have negative impacts on the Paddington community.

Mr Scali, who has the option of seeking a judicial review of the independent Liquor & Gaming Authority decision, said he was weighing up his next steps.

He also questioned the store’s potential impact on alcohol related crime in the Paddington area.

“One of the reasons it was rejected was because Woollahra was identified as a hotspot for alcohol-induced assaults but in Paddington itself the rate is low and being an affluent area that tends to counter any assaults that do occur,” he said.

“We’re sourcing really ethical products and trying to focus on sustainability and small batch wine makers – we’re a small business supporting other small businesses.

“We could look at taking (the business) to another suburb but I live in Paddington and I love the area and there aren’t a lot of small bars. We always thought there was a need.”

Plans show the venue would have traded to 10pm and would have capacity for up to 20 patrons. The outlet would have also supported up to six jobs.

The independent Liquor & Gaming Authority decision to reject the stores comes after it rejected a series of other liquor licences in the council area including a proposed specialty bottle shop on Queen St due to concerns it could “saturate” the area with access to alcohol.