Breweries able to operate as bars.
Inner West microbreweries will be able to operate as small bars, under a new category of liquor license beginning in September. The NSW government’s 12-month license trial will allow microberies to serve 100 patrons, instead of only offering tastings. The move would also combat bureaucratic red tape that delayed growth applications, so that new brewers could more easily have development applications processed and licensing restrictions lifted. Inner West Mayor Darcy Byrne said the decision was an “important development” which would allow the area to continue on its path to become the capital of craft beer in Australia. The new measures will assist currently operating microbreweries, as well as those in the planning or development stages.
WestConnex Update
The neverending developments in the WestConnex saga continue, with state road authorities abandoning plans to dig two tunnel entrances, one near Haberfield Public School and another over Leichhardt’s Darley Road Dan Murphy’s bottle shop. Community groups including Leichhardt Against WestConnex had been protesting plans for a dive site on Darley Road where 32 homes would have suffered from the tunnelling noise. Instead, contractors will build twin tunnels in seven other sites under the revised plans, including existing development sites such as on Northcote Street at Haberfield. The site at Haberfield Public School would instead be used for “lower impact activities” such as site offices, storage and car parking. The plans are continually chopping and changing, so community members can look forward to more announcements and diverted plans in the months and years to come.
Ambulance Superstation
From November, the Inner West will see the Concord, Marrickville and Campsie ambulance stations be “downgraded”, with personnel moved to a new super station under construction in Haberfield. The restructure is similar to the merger of police commands, with some paramedics concerned that “massive holes” would be left in the coverage area. It’s yet unclear how ambulance response times will be affected, but the redistribution of resources could leave some local areas with less ambulances and poorer health outcomes.