By Alesha Capone
Werribee residents are battling a proposal to build a bottle shop near their houses.
A planning application has been lodged with Wyndham council for a $2.2 million development on vacant land at 18-20 and part of 22 Princess Highway, near Wattle Avenue.
The application is scheduled for a compulsory conference at the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal on July 22 because it has not been dealt with by council since being lodged in December.
Brian Gosney, who lives in a court close to Wattle Avenue, said that he and are other residents are planning to contest the application at VCAT.
Mr Gosney said residents were worried about the potential for “drinking, loutish behaviour and litter” as a result of the bottle shop.
He said the recent upgrade of the Wattle Street intersection had led to a lot more drivers using the road, and putting in a liquor store “will only create more traffic”.
He also cited an article published by Star Weekly last week which highlighted concerns about people drinking at a park in Vincent Crescent.
“We don’t need any more alcohol-related problems in Werribee,” Mr Gosney said.
Mr Gosney said there were already several bottle shops located in the vicinity of the Princes Highway and Wattle Avenue intersection, including one store just two blocks away.
Star Weekly contacted the applicant, Princes Wattle Pty Ltd’s, lawyers, for comment.
