An application to establish Cambridge’s ninth bottle store in Victoria Street has been reviewed by the District Licensing Committee and will go to a public hearing.
Waipā Enforcement manager Karl Tutty said the council was working to confirm a date around Covid-19 restrictions and availability of the parties for the hearing.
The application for an Off Licence by Blue Drops Ltd was received by Waipā District Council on May 31; public notices appeared in June with the objection period ending on June 30. No objections were received from the public.
The application is for seven days trading from 10am to 10pm. It was considered by the Police and the Medical Officer of Health before it went to the committee for consideration.
Records suggest Cambridge already has eight bottle stores, four supermarket outlets, some dairies and several small bars and restaurants all within two to three kilometres of the proposed new off licence.
The latest site would be in the former Guthrie Bowron building and less than 100m from a church. The council’s Local Alcohol policy says an off licence would not be issued for new premises where the site frontage directly borders any place of worship.
Meanwhile, the council enforcement team processed 75 alcohol licence applications, audited 21 food premises and inspected one health premises in the quarter ended September 30.
New alcohol licenses were issued for Hamilton Pistol Club, Takapoto Estate and Joe’s Garage (On Licence).
Applications for three off licences, including two new bottle stores in Cambridge (Blue Drops Ltd) and Ōhaupō, are being processed.
The Ōhaupō premises are at 126 Great South Road.
The grocery bottle store application is at 97 Swayne Road, bordering Cambridge Oaks lifestyle village.
