Win for publican Arthur Barrett over NIMBYs who pushed for planned Waikiki tavern to lose its liquor licence

The proposed Waikiki tavern will go ahead, after the Liquor Commission threw out objections on Tuesday which threatened to derail the planned hospitality venue. The Sunday Times revealed at the weekend the publican behind the proposed tavern, Arthur Barrett, had threatened to pull out of the project rather than build a pub with no beer. His liquor licence was put on ice in February after two residents complained his proposed tavern was not in the public interest. The unusual matter attracted hundreds of complaints online following the weekend article, with locals fearing the site would remain a dustbowl if the publican pulled out. The Liquor Commission is not subject to a deadline on when to make a decision, but it surprised everyone by finalising the matter on Tuesday afternoon, nine months after the conditional liquor licence was frozen. In good news for the publican and the developer, the commission dismissed the objections, effectively reactivating the conditional liquor licence. Mr Barrett said the decision was a relief. “It’s been a long nine months,” he said. “I feel the decision was predictable given the levels of community support and council support, but it just took us a very long time to get there.” The decision revealed the details of the complaint, which focused primarily on public health, but also referenced the size of the 1000-person tavern, restaurant and function centre. The two objectors claimed socio-economic vulnerabilities in the area increased susceptibility to alcohol-related harm and complained the tavern would introduce additional supply in an already saturated market. The residents complained the proposed harm-minimisation strategies were inadequate for such a big venue, and they maintained the tavern would lessen the amenity, quiet and good order of Safety Bay, which they described as “a tranquil, family-oriented coastal environment”. But court documents show Mr Barrett and developer Rhys Kelly, who is behind the broader $12 million mixed-use project on the site, maintained the nearest tavern was more than 2km away, and that both would service a locality of 24,500 people. The pair also highlighted the location operated for more than 50 years the Waikiki Hotel and the City of Rockingham’s planning policy expressly required licensed premises on the site. They also claimed they would create an “upmarket community and neighbourhood-focused, family-friendly dining, drinking, socialising and entertaining venue” with a dedicated children’s play area and strong food service component. In its decision, the commission said it was satisfied there was a consumer requirement for a licensed venue, given the lack of such a service in the area. It also noted the community expected a hospitality venue at the site, given its history as a hotel, and that the council called for a licensed premise. It claimed “only two persons lodged objections from a locality of approximately 24,500 residents”. “While the applicants characterised the locality as socio-economically disadvantaged, the evidence presents a mixed picture,” the commission said. “The director found that the main demographic consists of middle-aged people and retirees. On balance, the commission finds that the existing level of alcohol-related harm in the locality is no higher than, and likely lower than, the WA average.” It said was satisfied with the proposed harm minimisation measures and acknowledged the applicants’ “genuine concerns about their local area” but based on the evidence, the applicants had not established that granting the licence “would be contrary to the public interest”.