Utakarra getting "competitive priced" liquor store after appeal by business owners

Geraldton MLA Ian Blayney says he is deeply disappointed that an appeal by Con’s Liquor against the decision to deny its application for a large discount liquor outlet is Utakarra, has been upheld by the Liquor Commission of Western Australia.

“I’m surprised this appeal has been upheld given the range and volume of submissions against this development.

“I remain of the view that the location and size of this particular liquor outlet is not in the best interest of the Geraldton community.

“The Commission has acknowledged that Geraldton is a city with a higher percentage of at risk persons than in other parts of Western Australia and that there are social issues within the town relating to the use of alcohol, and it yet has overturned the initial decision to prevent this development from occurring,” said Mr Blayney.

The liquor store, operating as Con’s Liquor Geraldton and owned by business man Mr Peter Jeffree’s company PDG Geraldton Pty Ltd, submitted that there is no liquor store of the size proposed currently operating in Geraldton and that as a result of existing arrangements consumers have been deprived of competitive prices and access to the multiple advantages of buying liquor as a bulk sale.

Mr Blayney said that the proposed site of this liquor store is near Bundiyarra and Geraldton Streetwork Aboriginal Corporations and both organisations had submitted applications against this proposal, as has many other organisations. Submissions opposing the proposal were also made by the Commissioner of Police and on behalf of the Executive Director of Public Health. 

“I think that the community has a right to expect that all undertakings given by the applicant Mr Peter Jeffree will apply to all subsequent owners and operators of this business. I would expect that the Liquor Commission will make the undertakings a condition of any sale or lease of the licence.

“I am advised that any further appeal must be to the Supreme Court of Western Australia, to determine whether there has been an error in law in reaching the decision to uphold this appeal,” said Mr Blayney.