Licensed premises
Liquor licencing is referred to in Clause 52.27 of the Towong Planning Scheme.
Permits are required to make sure licensed premises are in appropriate locations, and that they don't impact negatively on the surrounding area.
When permits are required
A permit to use land to sell liquor is required when:
- a licence is required under the Liquor Control Reform Act 1998
- a different licence or category of licence is required from that which is in force
- the hours of trading allowed under a licence are to be extended
- the number of patrons allowed under a licence is to be increased
- the area that liquor is allowed to be consumed or supplied under a licence is to be increased.
This does not apply:
- to a limited licence
- to a licence to manufacture liquor
- if the schedule to this clause specifies that a permit is not required to use land to sell or consume liquor under a particular type of licence
- to a variation that reduces the hours of trading allowed under a licence
- to a variation that reduces the number of patrons allowed under a licence
- to a variation that reduces the area within which liquor is allowed to be consumed or supplied under a licence
- to a variation of licence at the initiative of the Victorian Commission for Gambling and Liquor Regulation, pursuant to Section 58 of the Liquor Control Reform Act 1998
- to a variation of licence for a variation prescribed in Part 6, Regulation 31 of the Liquor Control Reform Regulations 2009
- if a different licence or category of licence is required solely as a result of changes to licence categories
- to a licence to sell only packaged liquor for consumption elsewhere issued before 8 April 2011.
Applying for a permit
In cases where a planning permit is needed, the applicant will need to obtain the planning permit before they lodge their application for an above liquor licence or licence variation with the Victorian Commission for Gambling and Liquor Regulation (VCGLR).
The requirements for lodging a planning permit application for a liquor licence are as follows:
- planning permit application form
- planning fees
- copy of the Title or a Title Search
- operating hours and patron capacity
- a brief description detailing the perceivable effect that the licenced premises would have on the surrounding area, particularly if there are other known licenced premises in vicinity
- a red line plan (this will be endorsed and form part of the planning permit and will be used by VCGLR in determining your application)