‘Family friendly’ Muirhead tavern gets green light as appeal rejected

An appeal against a decision to grant the planned new ‘family friendly’ tavern a liquor licence has been rejected.

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AN appeal against a decision to grant the planned new “family friendly” Breezes Muirhead tavern a liquor licence has been rejected by the NT Civil and Administrative Tribunal.

The NT Liquor Commission approved the transfer of developers Justin Coleman and Steve Dugan’s former Globies licence to the new tavern in January, amid an outcry from local residents and the nearby Tracy Village and Casuarina Club.

Clubs NT appealed that decision to NTCAT on behalf of the two venues in April but in a decision handed down in May, the tribunal ruled in favour of the new development.

An appeal against the decision to grant a proposed tavern in Muirhead a liquor licence as been rejected.

The clubs had argued that the new venue would have a significant adverse impact on Tracy Village and the Casuarina Club, which the tribunal heard would lose 30 per cent of their revenue do to the increased competition.

But tribunal members Ben O’Loughlin, Andrew Macrides and Paul Rysavy rejected that submission, saying the impact would likely not be as significant as claimed.

“Although it is probable that the Casuarina Club and Tracy Village may lose some food and beverage revenue, there is every opportunity for both clubs to compete with the new venue,” they said.

“It must also be noted that Tracy Village has been in a precarious financial state for some years and this may well continue regardless of a new competitor.”

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The proposal had also attracted a record number of objections based on its impact on the nearby residential community but the tribunal members ruled any adverse effect was unlikely to be significant.

“The risk of harm from the excessive or inappropriate consumption of liquor is unlikely to be exacerbated by a family friendly tavern — presumably responsibly managed by the proponents, given their reputation — and which does not have a takeaway,” they wrote.

However the tribunal members noted the objectors had raised legitimate concerns and also upheld a number of conditions previously imposed by the Liquor Commission when it made it’s original ruling.

They include a construction completion deadline of three years, that the developers stick to their “family friendly” concept and employ appropriate noise controls.

The tavern will be permitted to open between 10am and midnight every day except Christmas Day, New Year’s Day and Good Friday.

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