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In June 1994, the Director of Liquor Licensing approved
an Extended Trading Permit that allowed a hotel to trade
on Friday and Saturday nights between midnight and 1am
the following morning for a six-month period.
After the permit was granted, the Liquor Licensing Division
received a number of complaints from nearby residents
alleging that they were experiencing undue disturbance
in the early hours of the morning on those nights when
the permit operated.
The owners of a house located a short distance from the
hotel initiated action. They contacted a number of residents
in their street, as well as the Office of Racing, Gaming
and Liquor, Liquor Licensing Division and a local government.
In their letter of objection, the couple referred to young
people leaving the hotel in an intoxicated state, engaging
in fights and using foul language. They described the
damage caused to property by drunk patrons and the high
speed at which cars were leaving the hotel’s car
park.
Another resident who lived in the vicinity of the hotel
obtained a form LLD/9 (for complaint about noise, disturbance)
from the Liquor Licensing Division. He complained about
‘unruly patrons outside the licensed premises and
adjoining facilities’. The resident approached other
people who lived in the vicinity of the hotel and collected
the required number of signatures (ten) to support the
complaint. He then posted the form to the Director of
Liquor Licensing.
The Director of Liquor Licensing found that the residents
were credible witnesses and that their letters and statements
were consistent and reasonable. In his concluding remarks,
the Director specifically instructed the licensee, who
was present at the hearing, to ensure that the names of
the residents be kept confidential to avoid the possibility
of any recrimination against nearby residents. The Extended
Trading Permit was withdrawn.
(Health Department of Western Australia (1996) |
