A pub subject to Newcastle CBD's strict trading regulations for licensed venues has applied to push its lockout time back by 30 minutes and get permission to sell cocktails containing more than 30ml of alcohol after 10pm.
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But the move has attracted opposition from Tony Brown, a community advocate and supporter of the CBD trading conditions, who says he will lodge a submission against the application because he believes individual variations will weaken the suite of measures.
Liquor and Gaming NSW is considering the application by Finnegan's Hotel, on Darby Street, to allow patrons into the venue until 1.30am.
The application argued that pushing back the venue's lockout time would be consistent with other CBD venues subject to the CBD restrictions, including King Street Hotel, Customs Hotel and The Argyle House.
It also contained a list of 21 inner city venues where cocktails and spirits were sold after 10pm.
"This Hotel has also proven to be consistently responsibly managed over a lengthy period, and has procedures in place to ensure the responsible sale and supply of spirits and cocktails," the application said.
"There is no reason why the sale and supply of spirits, cocktails and bottled wine at this Hotel after 10.00pm could give rise to any adverse impact on community amenity or alcohol-related crime and harm."
Mr Brown said applications for individual variations would "significantly weaken" the package of measures in the CBD.
"The incredible scientifically validated benefits of a holistic precinct-wide approach to alcohol harm prevention is about to be destroyed," he said.
"No sustainable or believable arguments can be put that the same measures have not been, overall, very beneficial to the safety, prosperity, diversity and vibrancy of Newcastle CBD."
Finnegan's Hotel is one of 14 venues subject to the conditions imposed in 2008.
The Independent Liquor and Gaming Authority completed a review of the regulations last year, resulting in the conditions being maintained.
