Move to abolish ’dry area’ facing backlash in Melbourne’s inner east

Locals in Melbourne’s inner east fear a drastic Andrews government move to abolish an “archaic” law will impact their hip pocket.

A move by the Andrews government to abolish an old “dry area” law is facing a backlash in the leafy eastern suburbs.

The state Opposition is warning residents their house prices and local amenity could be affected if pubs and nightclubs are allowed to open in suburbs such as Camberwell, Canterbury, Balwyn and Surrey Hills.

Introduced in the 1920s amid a strong anti-alcohol movement, the dry law requires a poll of local neighbourhoods to approve a hotel, bar or club licence. No vote is needed for BYO permits or restaurant and cafe licence applications.

Premier Daniel Andrews went to the 2018 election pledging to dump the “archaic” law, saying it was expensive to hold polls and was a burden for locals.

Opposition health spokeswoman and Southern Metropolitan Region MP Georgie Crozier is among Liberal MPs sending letters to residents about the proposed changes.

“We’re concerned about a lack of voice for people on this issue, so we’re seeking community feedback to give them a say,” she told the Herald Sun. “People are pretty open to wine bars and things, but they don’t want these big nightclubby barn things and poker machines and all that.”

The Palace Hotel on Camberwell’s Burke Rd is one of the area’s only pubs.

Opposition planning spokesman David Davis slammed the proposed legislation as anti-democratic and said local amenity was at risk.

“The dry zones were voted in and the right to approve or not approve licensed premises has been a sacrosanct right in the former municipalities of Camberwell and Box Hill,” he said. “(It) should not be changed without a vote.”

Camberwell resident and convener of lobby group Planning Backlash, Mary Drost, said the dry law had enhanced safety in the area and should not be abolished.

“We see drunks stumbling out of pubs in other areas, so we are grateful we don’t have that here,” she said.

The government said that since 2004, the compulsory alcohol polls had cost Victorian taxpayers more than $500,000, with residents previously being fined $83 for not voting.

“We’re reducing red tape and helping small businesses recover from the impacts of the coronavirus pandemic by abolishing costly and outdated dry area laws,” a government spokeswoman said.

“The changes will benefit both residents and small businesses, and bring more hospitality and entertainment jobs to the areas.”

Other suburbs affected by the dry law include Ashburton, Box Hill and Glen Iris.