Two businesses in Tangambalanga and Kiewa are split on who should be able to provide punters with alcohol.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Tangambalanga Hotel was the only place in the region of about 500 people which sold packaged alcohol, but a planning application from Kiewa General Store could change that.
Store owner Brendan Arundel wanted to create a 3x3m area where he could sell boutique beers and wines from the North East.
“We’d try to support the locals with that,” he said.
“I’m just trying to evolve as a small business … if you don’t have a crack and evolve with the times, we’re going to die.”
Kelly Livingstone has watched her parents Kaylene and Bob Thomas “work their arse off” since taking over the Tangambalanga Hotel three years ago and was worried about competition from one kilometre down the road.
“If their liquor licence goes ahead, it will hurt us,” she said.
The pub started an online petition against granting the liquor licence, which attracted more than 350 signatures in just three days.
The decision will lie with Indigo Council, but objections could only be based on community concerns, not worries over business competition.
Mrs Livingstone said residents were also concerned about children being around alcohol at the general store.
“I’ve seen some of the people come in here for takeaway alcohol, you don’t want kids exposed to that,” she said.
Mr Arundel rejected the concerns, saying the store was a family-friendly business and would continue to close no later than 7pm.
He said he should have spoken to the pub before his application went public in The Border Mail classifieds, but he believed his boutique alcohol sales would differ from the pub.
“The last thing I want is to have a divide, I want to be able to go up there and support them,” Mr Arundel said.
Both businesses said they had their towns’ best interests at heart.
Tangambalanga Hotel did not want to create a community divide either, but the owners were worried a loss in revenue could hamper their future sponsorship of sporting clubs and events.
Kiewa General Store also sponsors sporting and community groups.
“We want everyone to survive,” Mrs Livingstone said.
“Small pubs are the hub of the community, but sadly they are a dying trade.”