Concerns over Avalon bottle shop under childcare centre
Avalon Beach locals are outraged at plans to demolish Careel Shopping Village and build a new $7.2 million centre with a 60-place childcare centre above a Dan Murphy’s liquor store.
The proposal drew 137 submissions, including one from Pittwater Independent MP Jacqui Scruby.
“A new liquor store should not be in the vicinity of a childcare centre,” Ms Scruby stated in her submission. “The Northern Sydney Health District (NSLHD) submission … raises objections to this (which) I agree with.”
NSLHD said in its submission that the Northern Beaches had a ‘significantly higher rate (65%) of alcohol- attributable hospitalisations compared to the rest of the state.’
It said that data released by the Northern Beaches Hospital in 2022 showed unplanned alcohol visits to its emergency department were 47% higher than the rest of NSW.
“The proposal would increase young children’s exposure to alcohol and alcohol marketing on a regular basis,” NSLHD stated. “The relationship between exposure to alcohol marketing and increased youth drinking is evident.”
Ms Scruby also worried about the effect on local businesses, stating that there were ‘already four liquor stores in Avalon’ and the possible traffic issues that would risk pedestrian safety, especially with no safe crossing in place.
Craig Boaden, president of the Avalon Preservation Association, said that co-locating a liquor outlet with a childcare centre was ‘grossly inappropriate.’
“According to the Department of Liquor and Gaming, there are already 28 licensed premises in Avalon Beach, including four bulk liquor retailers,” Mr Boaden said. “There is no need for more. This proposal sends a very bad message to the youth of the area. Research has also established that the ready availability of alcohol is a factor in domestic and family violence.”
Along with Dan Murphy’s and the childcare centre, three ground-floor retail outlets are planned.
Council said all submissions would be reviewed with copies provided to the Northern Beaches Local Planning Panel, which is the determining authority. All concerns raised by the submissions will be addressed in council’s report to the panel. People who wrote submissions will be invited to speak at a panel meeting later this year.