Some residents in Belrose are worried about opening another liquor store at Glenrose Shopping Village, citing the effects of increased alcohol use in the area, such as anti-social behaviour especially among the youth.
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This comes after Vintage Cellars, which is owned by Coles group received an approval from NSW Liquor and Gaming to open an outlet at the mall, which would already be the third for Glenrose Shopping Village.
At present, there are already two bottle shops operating at the mall–Woolworths’ BWS and a separate alcohol section at Aldi supermarket. Vintage Cellars will take over the space once occupied by a seafood restaurant and a shop used to advertise a retirement village nearby.
Back in June 2021, young people were being targeted by Northern Beaches Police following a case of vandalism at Glenrose Shopping Village, which resulted in damaged fence panels at the mall.
Investigations revealed that young people were congregating in the area, consuming alcohol, illicit drugs, which resulted in offensive behaviour, damage to property and leaving dangerous or harmful litter in the area.
Because of the incident, the Northern Beaches Council proposed the re-establishment of alcohol-free zones.
Council consulted the residents and based on feedback received, around 79 percent of respondents support the re-establishment of the Belrose Alcohol Free Zone, and round 20 submissions identified continuing issues of alcohol related anti-social behaviour.
Residents asked to include the reserve behind Glenrose shops and bounded by the aforementioned avenues as it has been the scene of some anti-social behaviour in the past.
“It is disappointing that the reserve behind Glenrose Shopping Centre is not included inthis action. This is the major area of concern for the surrounding neighbourhood where drug and alcohol abuse and subsequent damage to public and private property takes place and where Neighbour Watch has recently started,” one neighbour wrote in the submission.
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At present, the existing alcohol free zone in the area is bounded by Haigh, Wingara, Lowanna and Coora Avenues.
Meanwhile, some members at the Belrose, Davidson, French’s Forest & Forestville Community Page shared they would love to see a food outlet in the space, like another fish ‘n chips rather than a bottleshop.