New Liquor Licenses set to fail unless associated planning laws finalised.

As well as a liquor licence, many new venues will also have to apply for a  Place of Public Entertainment(PoPE) consent from their local council before they can operate and a licence is issued.

After many years of work, and two separate acts of Parliament, a final amendment to this (PoPE) law is currently being completed by Planning Minister Sartor. An interim policy WAS gazetted last year, however Raise the Bar has sighted a document submitted last week to the Planning Department that cites an extensive list of applications for new PoPE's under the new policy, none of which has actually got passed the red tape it was intended to remove.

We need this  last amedment in what has been a long process for the new laws to ACTUALLY WORK! -  which is why we are so concerned at this critical time.

Don't say we didn't warn you!.

With Premier Iemma, Arts and Planning Minister Sartor, and Gaming and Racing Minister West all in favour of this last amendment to the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979, and the Local Governments and Shires Association, City of Sydney Council, and building surveyors who have to implement any changes all onside, there is still a blockage somewhere.

Please email your local member and see if they can find out what the hold-up is.