In September Narre Warren South resident Suzanne Brendel expressed concern over a liquor licence application for the Maranatha Methodist Cricket Club.By Rebecca Fraser
CASEY Council will support a liquor licence application for the Maranatha Methodist Cricket Club (MMCC).
The move follows much council debate over the terms of the proposal and whether the community room at Strathaird Reserve should be included in the application.
At Tuesday’s meeting council moved that they would advise Liquor Licensing Victoria that they supported the application based on certain conditions.
These included that the Narre Warren South club only serves alcohol on Tuesday and Thursday from 6pm to 10pm, on Saturday from noon to 11.30pm and on Sunday from noon to 10pm.
A council report had originally put forward a motion to advise Liquor Licensing Victoria that it objected to the application on the basis of potential detriment to surrounding residents and instead advised that it would only support the application on certain terms.
Council also moved that the licence only be granted until 31 March 2006.
However, in an alternate recommendation, Oatlands Ward councillor Mick Morland successfully moved that council not object to the application and the licence be granted for 12 months.
He also argued that the community room should be included in the application.
“ Clubs survive by raising revenue and they (MMCC) have had a licence at Fotheringham Reserve for 20 years with no problems.
“We should be supporting local clubs and make sure facilities are used in the best possible way and ensure that clubs survive and go on,” Cr Morland said.
Cr Lorraine Wreford said it was not “appropriate” to grant the application for 12 months and also disagreed with including the community room in the liquor application.
Cr Ben Clissold also argued that the community room should not be included in the proposal.
“There is a distinct lack of meeting places in Narre Warren South for community groups,” Cr Clissold said.
“This could potentially limit the use of that room.
“Don’t take a room that the community needs and turning it into a drinking area where playgroups may not be able to meet.”
Last month, as reported in the News, a petition with 30 signatures was presented to council objecting to the application’s proposed hours.
Narre Warren South resident Suzanne Brendel said many residents had raised concerns over the issue.
This week Ms Brendel accepted the reduced hours but would still attend a panel hearing at the Liquor Licensing commission if that was how the proposed application was decided.
“Residents still hold concerns over the application and many have said they would attend the panel hearing.
“Residents will not be putting up with people drinking in car parks after 11.30pm on Saturday nights and we hope that alcohol is served responsibly during these hours,” she said.
