Licensed premises

Liquor licencing is referred to in Clause 52.27 of the Towong Planning Scheme.

Planning 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 Liquor Commission, 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 planning 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 Liquor Commission.

A planning permit application for a liquor licence must be accompanied by:

• A recently obtained (within the last 3 months) copy of the certificate of title together with the title plan and a copy of any restrictions, covenants or Section 173 Agreements that may be held on title. This can be obtained from Landata
• A professionally draw plan showing all seating and marked with a red line around all areas where it is intended to serve alcohol.
• The operating hours and patron capacity

A cumulative impact assessment of any existing licenced premises the proposed licensed premises on the amenity of the surrounding area.More information can be obtained via this link PPN61: Licensed premises: assessing cumulative impact (planning.vic.gov.au)