Liquor store moving, not opening a new branch

Thirsty Liquor is moving its Maida Vale St operation to the old Putt Putt site. Photo/Stephen Parker

A Rotorua liquor store owner wants the public to know he is not opening a new store, he's just moving sites, after being criticised on social media.

Jatinder Badh owns three Thirsty Liquor sites in Rotorua - on Ford Rd, Te Ngae Rd and Maida Vale St - but has to move from the Maida Vale site as the building "is not so good and needs to be brought down".

He said he would be one of a number of new tenants moving into new premises on the corner of Te Ngae Rd and Marguerita St - the old Putt Putt site - and should be ready to open in February or March next year.

Mr Badh said he had noticed people criticising the move on social media.

At least one post included race-based comments regarding the store having Indian owners.

Others said they blamed the Rotorua Lakes Council for allowing them to move there.

"Does Rotorua seriously need another liquor store?", one person commented.

"There is the Countdown not 1km from that area, 1km from that Redwood Centre that has a liquor store," they said.

"My daughter was disgusted when we drove past and saw that, she said Rotorua doesn't need any more liquor stores," another person said.

Other posts were along similar lines, saying Rotorua had enough liquor stores and some wanted to start a petition to have it stopped.

But Mr Badh said he was simply moving from a more residential location to an industrial-zoned site and was not opening another store.

"I think it's a better location . . . it's better we tell people what we are doing there," he said.

The council's compliance solutions manager Neven Hill said he could confirm the move was taking place and that a new liquor licence had been granted by the council.

"No objections or matters of opposition were received and it was approved in September under delegation by the chairperson of the District Licensing Committee, although it will not be issued until the new premises have been built.

"Resource consent was also required as it was a controlled activity in an industrial 1E zone which covered the amenity of the area and the building design.

"This consent was applied for in May 2016 and was granted in August."

Mr Hill said there were no rules preventing a liquor store from moving to a new location.

"However, the proposed Provisional Local Alcohol Policy (PLAP) will set community expectations regarding licensed premises, including location.

"The PLAP is not yet operative as we are going through an appeals process.

"Five appeals were lodged against the PLAP and Rotorua Lakes Council is now working through these."

Local Alcohol Policies can

Limit the location and/or number of licensed premises, taking into account factors such as;
- proximity to certain activities and facilities (sensitive sites)
- restrict or extend maximum opening hours where alcohol is available
- impose conditions related to the issuing of licenses