Dan Murphy’s: Yarra Ranges Council approves new store at old Kilsyth Coles site

One of Australia’s biggest liquor chains will open a new store in Melbourne’s outer east, filling the void left by a recently closed supermarket.

Yarra Ranges councillors have ticked off Dan Murphy’s plans to open a store at the old Coles Kilsyth. File picture.

Liquor giant Dan Murphy’s is coming to Kilsyth, despite residents’ concerns about another booze outlet in their neighbourhood.

Yarra Ranges councillors unanimously approved parent company Endeavour Group’s plans to open a new store, at a cost of $1.5m, on Mount Dandenong Rd at its meeting on Tuesday night.

Dan Murphy’s will take over the space previously home to a Coles supermarket and Liquorland outlet, which closed down earlier this month after more than 30 years of trading.

Shoppers took to social media devastated about the small supermarket’s closure, and the council received 18 objections to the plans.

Resident Valerie Mayer spoke at the meeting, saying the proposed plans were “disturbing”, the departure of Coles was a “disaster”, and that the area did not need another liquor store.

“I do not see why this area needs another massive opportunity when the council has put this as one of its aims to address and improve alcohol and drug health of its citizens,” she said.

But Ken Waddell, speaking in support of the landlord, said Dan Murphy’s was committed to the responsible service of alcohol, and it was important to not keep the site empty.

Dan Murphy’s will open a new store in Kilsyth by the end of the year. File picture.

“Coles didn’t want to further trade in this location, no matter how much the community wanted it to,” he said.

“We all need to have our shops filled and trading, this will not only bring people to the Dan Murphys but to other traders … and add vitality to the space rather than leaving it vacant,” he said.

Cr David Eastham said there was potential for traders at Churinga shopping centre next door to benefit “if Dan Murphy’s is as popular”.

Cr Sophie Todorov said a Dan Murphy’s store was “not ideal” for the location, but the council “can't pick and choose under the planning scheme what we can and cannot allow.”

“It’s appropriate to commercial zoning and suitable land use, and there’s no evidence to suggest it will decrease amenity or increase criminal activity there,” she said.

Leader understands Dan Murphy’s Kilsyth will open in late 2022.