Victoria's regional residents are going to extraordinary lengths to fight big-name liquor companies that want to set up shop in their towns.
Residents in Apollo Bay this month lost their battle against a proposal for a BWS in their small coastal town, while Daylesford residents are ramping up their campaign against Dan Murphy's.
They've shared a common goal of wanting to protect their community from the "invasion" of big corporations and the harm they believe increased access to alcohol will cause.
No objections from police
The Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal recently granted a planning permit for Endeavour Drinks Group to open a store In Apollo Bay, despite the local council previously rejecting the proposal.
The company has confirmed it plans to open the new store later this year, making it the sixth outlet selling takeaway packaged liquor in the town of nearly 1,800 people.
Objector and Apollo Bay resident of 47 years Jane Gross says she is disappointed with the outcome and is concerned for the community's health and well-being.
She said BWS advertised a 30-minute pick-up time and online orders.
"None of that has been possible before in Apollo Bay," Ms Gross said.
"I think that changes how much alcohol is consumed and how responsibly."
Victoria Police and a local Health Protection Unit were consulted during the VCAT process and made no objections.
VCAT member Susan Whitney ultimately decided the development of a BWS store was an "acceptable planning outcome".
In her judgement, she said she had no reason to think another another liquor store would change the purchase and consumption of alcohol "in any meaningful way".
Residents against chain stores
Ms Gross says the arrival of BWS, which she describes as an "intrusion of a big corporation", will damage the character of the town.
It's a fear shared by residents 200 kilometres inland in the central Victorian tourist town of Daylesford, where Endeavour Drinks Group is planning to open a Dan Murphy's liquor store.
A group of residents there is scaling up its fight to stop the development, by lodging written objections with the Victorian Liquor Commission.
The local council, Hepburn Shire, has already granted planning approvals for a store.
Basil Eliades, who runs a boutique distillery in the town, says he's not worried about competition, but is concerned about the effect on his community.
"Our community relies on our identity and our identity will fundamentally be damaged by the introduction of chain stores into our town," he says.
Just over 2,700 make up the town of Daylesford, so Mr Eliades says it's significant that 220 people submitted written objections.
"The location is atrocious. It is within 100 metres of the childcare centre, the kindergarten, the primary school, the pool, and the bus stop," he says.
"We are suffering, we are mentally, emotionally and financially stressed by this, working away putting in ridiculous hours trying to defend our town and identity."
Communities should be 'listened to'
Experts say there are higher rates of alcohol outlets in small and low income communities in Australia, in comparison to wealthier towns.
Rosemary Calder, a professor of health policy at the Mitchell Institute at Victoria University, says there is "substantial evidence" harm caused by excess alcohol consumption is more likely when there are multiple liquor supply outlets in a town.
"If the community is concerned because there is already a reasonable supply in the community and increased supply will increase consumption and risk, that is a reasonable concern and should be listened to," Ms Calder says.
Ms Gross plans to ask the local council in Apollo Bay to consider changes to the planning scheme to create better protections in the future against liquor and gambling outlets.
"The next thing I feel we should do is lobby council to see what can be written into the planning scheme to protect us so we can keep our village feel of the town and not lose our character," she said.
Endeavour Drinks Group said in a statement that it was committed to being a valued member of the local community.
"A new BWS store in Apollo Bay will bring opportunities for local employment, and we look forward to being a part of the community," a spokesperson said.
"We're passionate about local — we employ locals, work with local suppliers and curate store ranges to suit the tastes of locals."
