General News
2 November, 2023
Application sought for bottle shop at current gym site
An application for a new bottleshop lodged to the Central Goldfields Shire Council has raised questions for local gym owner Ben Wintle whose business currently occupies the proposed site. Planning application DO71-23 was lodged with council in June...
An application for a new bottleshop lodged to the Central Goldfields Shire Council has raised questions for local gym owner Ben Wintle whose business currently occupies the proposed site.
Planning application DO71-23 was lodged with council in June this year and seeks approval for liquor to be sold in the form of a bottleshop in shops two and three at 111 Burke Street, Maryborough.
The application was lodged by PAJ Liquor Licensing and notes the site is currently vacant, which Mr Wintle said came as a complete surprise.
His gym business No Limits Health Clubs has been in an ongoing lease agreement with Aldi and has occupied the site since October 2012.
Mr Wintle said he was in the process of re-negotiating the lease agreement with Aldi when the planning application was advertised.
“I’ve been in negotiations, as far as I know and thought, with Aldi to renew my lease which expired in August last year and was up for re-negotiation,” he said.
“The 2021/22 rental price was $5700 a month which is pretty dear, I understand it’s a natural thing for any business to increase rent over time, but I’ve been occupying the space for over a decade and I’d like to stay there for another 10 years at least.
“The last I heard from Aldi was that they would discuss the rental agreement with their board and that was about three weeks ago, then I found out about this application.”
If the application was to be approved, it could bring the total number of bottleshops in Maryborough to seven, with two drive through bottleshops and all four supermarkets currently stocking and selling alcohol.
A change.org petition calling for the gym’s existing location to be saved has garnered some 500 signatures online, with the groundswell of support something Mr Wintle said is comforting.
“I’m getting a bit of support from the public which is great, I don’t know how effective it will be but that support has meant a lot,” he said.
“I know there are people who have written to council objecting to this application as well.
“This is about me, my family and our income but it’s also about the 450 gym members we have — this is their place to go.
“Closing down is not an option for me personally and it’s not an option for my clients and members either.”
Mr Wintle said if the application was approved, it could take months before the business was required to relocate — something he said would be difficult to do.
“There’s not a lot of options in Maryborough to relocate to, I have spoken to real estate agents and a couple of business owners that may have something suitable, but ultimately the location we have now is perfect for the service we provide,” he said.
“It’s not impossible to move but it’s not easy at all.
“I haven’t been told to vacate or anything at this stage, the future is up in the air at the moment which is an uncomfortable feeling.”
Central Goldfields Shire manager statutory services Peter Field confirmed council has received an application relating to the site.
“Council confirms it has received planning application DO71-23 for the use of a bottleshop at 111 Burke Street, Maryborough,” he said.
“This application is currently advertised and will be assessed in accordance with the Central Goldfields Shire planning scheme.
“Members of our community may object to a planning application within 14 days from the commencement of advertising.
“In order for council to accept an objection it must be made in writing containing a name and address and it must detail how the objector will be impacted if the planning permit was to be granted.”
As stated on the notice of an application for a planning permit, council will not decide on the application before November 9.
The Advertiser contacted Aldi who declined to comment on the matter.