Dan Murphy’s liquor licence transfer application approved for Darwin

DAN Murphy’s has finally been given the green light for Darwin after an almost five-year battle

• ‘The proposed Darwin Dan Murphy’s would have the most stringent set of alcohol control policies’: Woolworths chairman
• Dan Murphy’s decision looms with Chamber of Commerce confident of strong case behind the bid

DAN Murphy’s has finally got the green light for Darwin.

The NT News can reveal NT Director of Liquor Licensing Philip Timney will on Friday announce its liquor licence has been approved, two days before the official decision deadline.

Late on Thursday night, the NT News confirmed the decision through high-level sources.

All that now stands between Darwin getting its long-awaited liquor superstore is the Independent Panel Review announced by Woolworths on Wednesday.

READ THE FULL LIQUOR COMMISSION DECISION HERE

The review, to be completed by April next year, will focus on reviewing the adequacy and nature of stakeholder engagement and health concerns, how stakeholder concerns have been factored into the decision-making, and the best practice to apply to the supply and sale of alcohol to ensure the best interests of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are maintained.

Dan Murphy’s new proposed site in Darwin

Woolworths, which has said it will not appeal the NT Director of Liquor Licensing decision if it loses its application to build the Dan Murphy’s in Darwin, had last night not been told of the decision.

However, a representative said it would be a great Christmas present if it was the case.

“No, we are still waiting to hear,” they told the NT News yesterday.

The proposed new site for Dan Murphy’s next to Flip Out. The cleared block of land is opposite the intersection of McMillans and Sabine roads intersection and already has a gate as an entry point. Picture: Gary Shipway

Construction of the Dan Murphy’s store is planned for land at the corner of McMillans Road and Osgood Drive.

The site is opposite the Sabine Road intersection at Millner, and has an existing entrance from McMillans Road, suggesting the site will have dual entry points.

When the NT News visited the site yesterday, the intersection was being surveyed for what may ultimately be upgrades to accommodate changed traffic conditions for access to the site.

The NT government introduced special legislation in November that diverted the case from the Liquor Commission and empowered the Director of Liquor Licensing to make the final decision on the Dan Murphy’s megastore by Sunday.

An artist’s impression of the proposed Dan Murphy’s on Darwin airport land.

Woolworths had been under increasing pressure from interstate opponents to drop the plans for the Dan Murphy’s store.

Darwin-based Indigenous groups opposed to the store argue it is still too close to vulnerable communities, despite two other large liquor outlets already in the area.

Woolworths, through its Endeavour Group, operates 16 BWS stores in the Northern Territory. It had originally proposed to build the Dan Murphy’s store on Bagot Road near Bunnings.

On November 12, Woolworths adjusted its plans in line with community concerns, moving the proposed store 1.3km further away from concerned Indigenous communities.