Planning permits will soon no longer be required to serve alcohol.
Following extensive consultation with several councils, last month the State Government announced that Clause 52.27 (Licenses Premises) will be abolished by July 1, 2025.
Currently, regional businesses are required to apply for both a Victorian Liquor Commission licence and a planning permit from their local council in order to serve alcohol.
But the process, in what the State Government has dubbed an ‘unnecessary duplication’, is both timely and costly, and a headache for many business owners.
The removal of the clause will therefore enable businesses to serve alcohol up to six months earlier than current processes allow, and save up to $7000 in fees.
Minister for Regional Development Gayle Tierney welcomed the reforms, and was excited to see it benefit small town economies.
“These proposals will support rural and regional Victoria to continue delivering some of the best tourism and hospitality experiences in the country,” she said.
“By removing unnecessary and duplicative red tape, we’re supporting regional pubs, cafes, and restaurants to open sooner and welcome more visitors—meaning more local jobs and a boost to the local economy.”
Protections around amenities, noise, and operating hours will remain in place, and zoning and planning permits will continue to determine where businesses can operate—but now without the duplication.