Territorians back decision to approve Dan Murphy’s for Darwin

THE company that wants to bring Dan Murphy’s to Darwin has urged its detractors to give it a chance

Dan Murphy's has been approved for Darwin.

• It’s a Yes! Dan Murphy’s gets green light for Darwin
• The proposed Darwin Dan Murphy’s would have the most stringent set of alcohol control policies’: Woolworths chairman
• Endeavour Group vows to engage further with community before beginning to build newly-approved Darwin Dan Murphy’s

The company that wants to bring Dan Murphy’s to Darwin has urged its detractors to give it a chance.

Endeavour Group, has vowed to continue community consultation before a store is built.

The company said it recognises that before a store can be built, more engagement with the people of Darwin must occur

“We are committed to engaging extensively with those Darwin based groups that are willing to speak with us,” the Endeavour Group said.

“This engagement by the Endeavour Group team will be occurring in parallel to the independent Panel Review announced by Woolworths Group this week.”

The independent Panel Review announced by Woolworths Group this week is expected to be completed by Aprils 2021. No work at the site will be done until the review is completed.

The company has backed the licensing conditions the Director of Liquor Licensing has imposed, which includes that every customer must have ‘a legitimate address to consume the

liquor.

“We will not be selling alcohol if we believe it is to be consumed in public or taken into a dry community,” the Endeavour Group said.

Health Minister Natasha Fyles pointed to the Government’s tough laws and regulations put in place as alcohol harm minimisation strategies.

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“The Territory Government over the past four years has done a lot of work to minimise the harm of alcohol including introducing a floor price and the banned drinkers register,” she said.

“This work has been extensive and has seen results — including a 24 per cent decrease in high range drink driving offences, 21 per cent reduction in alcohol-related assaults, and a 14 per cent decrease in alcohol-related presentations to NT Hospitals’ Emergency Departments.”

Master Builders NT chief executive officer Dave Malone said the Dan Murphy’s saga has become a battle ground for a number of issues apart from alcohol related harm.

“Now that the decisions been made let’s hope they can get on with it,” Mr Malone said.

“If you look at 2020, whether it is the RSL new site issue, the pop up beach club at East Point, or the surf lagoon at Vestey’s Beach there has been a lot of negativity around anything new in this town.

“In the current economic climate the $30 million Dan Murphy’s project is a significant investment by a private business.

“Almost all the activity is in the Territory at the moment is being driven by government spending, whether it's the territory Government or the Federal Government.

“The Dan Murphy’s project is a private investor backing the Territory which is exactly what the reconstruction Commission wanted to see.

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“From our industry’s perspective this is a positive opportunity.

“Clearly the majority of public opinion is in support of a Dan Murphy’s in Darwin.

“I know there are some groups bitterly opposed to it, but when you look at it, the outlet is going to be subjected to tougher laws and regulations than anywhere else in the nation.”

NT Airports, which alongside the Chamber of Commerce NT, has previously been vocal advocates for the Dan Murphy’s development gave a tempered response to the NT Liquor Licensing decision.

NT Airports has 311 hectares around Darwin International Airport zoned non-aviation commercial use, and multiple businesses operate in this area including accommodation, retail and warehousing. Dan Murphy’s is proposed in this commercial zone,” NT Airports chief executive officer Tony Edmondstone said.

“The NT Government and Endeavour Group are the decision makers and developers of Dan Murphy’s and any queries regarding the development should be directed to those parties.”