Careel Shopping Village: Health authorities fight to halt childcare centre above Dan Murphy’s bottle shop

A plan to put a childcare centre above a bottle shop as part of a Sydney shopping centre redevelopment has been blasted by health authorities.

An artist's impression of a proposed redevelopment of the Careel Shopping Village, Avalon Beach, which includes a Dan Murphy’s liquor outlet, with a 60-place childcare centre above it on the first floor. Picture: CD Architects

A controversial plan for a northern beaches’ childcare centre above a suburban bottle shop has been released — again — for public feedback.

Health authorities had blasted the original development application for the redevelopment of the Careel Shopping Village at Avalon Beach that included the 60-child centre over a Dan Murphy’s outlet.

The revised $7.2m DA, now open for submissions until July 28, is still pushing for the “early childhood education centre” on the first floor of the site on the corner of Careel Head and Barrenjoey roads.

But NSW Health’s Northern Sydney Local Health District urged Northern Beaches Council to reject the plans amid concerns about its “health and social impacts”.

“The proposed DA would increase young children’s exposure to alcohol and alcohol marketing on a regular basis,” the health district’s director of population health, Paul Klarenaar, wrote in a submission.

An artist's impression of a proposed redevelopment of the Careel Shopping Village, which includes a 60-place childcare centre on the first floor. Picture: CD Architects

Mr Klarenaar also pointed out that there was evidence showing the relationship between exposure to alcohol marketing and increased youth drinking and that there were already four other bottle shops nearby.

When the original DA for the two-storey building, including four shops, was put on public exhibition last year, the council received about 100 submissions from locals worried about the impact of redeveloping the small shopping centre.

The site of a proposed commercial redevelopment of a shopping centre in Careel Head Rd, Avalon Beach. Picture: Supplied

A submission from independent state MP for Pittwater, Jacqui Scruby, called for the plan to be rejected.

Ms Scruby wrote that locals had told her they would support developments that met the needs of the community and reflected community values.

“These values include supporting existing local businesses and protecting the community from a high density of liquor shops and inappropriate co-locations with childcare centres,” she said.

“Many in the local community also feel it is unethical to co-locate a liquor store next in the same building as a childcare centre. I agree with this sentiment.”

An artist's impression of the proposed redevelopment of the Careel Shopping Village, looking from Barrenjoey Rd. Picture: CD Architects

In an addendum statement of environmental effects, lodged with the revised DA, the developer noted that the location of the childcare business would not breach a planning guideline related to proximity to licensed premises, such as pubs and clubs, where patrons could drink or gamble on site.

“It is clear that the guideline is not intended to apply strictly to a shop selling packaged liquor because that liquor is not consumed on the premise,” the document states.

It also stated that the child care centre had a separate entrance, away from the bottle shop and had its own lift from the basement car park.

An artist's impression of a proposed redevelopment of the Careel Shopping Village, looking from Careel Head Rd. Picture: CD Architects.

“The Dawn Murphy’s entrance near the lift is a discreet entry where alcoholic products and the like are not highly visible relative to child care attendees.”

Dan Murphy’s is part of the Endeavour Group, which describes itself as “Australia’s leading retail drinks and hospitality business”.

Manly locals want to see local businesses stay at the Careel Shopping Village at Avalon Beach. Picture: Supplied

The Endeavour Group told this masthead that it prioritised responsible service of alcohol and compliance with all relevant regulations.

“We are committed to engaging with the Northern Beaches Council and NSW Health to address any concerns and to ensure that our operations align with community expectations and safety standards,” a spokesman said.

“Our goal is to leave a positive imprint on the communities we serve, and we will consider all feedback as part of our ongoing assessment of this development.”

Originally published as Careel Shopping Village: Health authorities fight to halt childcare centre above Dan Murphy’s bottle shop