Supermarket giant Aldi has submitted plans to convert one of its existing stores in a north-west Brisbane suburb into a liquor barn, despite insisting it has no desire to open such a business.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Aldi submitted its plans to Brisbane City Council on Friday, proposing the conversion of its Ashgrove store in Harry Street into a liquor barn, along with the construction of a restaurant and bar on the site.
The application said the existing store would be retained in its existing form and converted into a 1264 square-metre liquor barn as well as the conversion of a 113-square-metre extension to the existing 340-square-metre tenancy on level two to build a hotel with bar, dining and function facilities.
“It would complement the existing retail and commercial activities in the precinct and provide the dining, socialising and take-away liquor opportunities afforded by an hotel,” the assessment report submitted as part of the application said.
A Chemist Warehouse store currently occupies the space outlined for the hotel use.
Aldi first made an application for the liquor barn at Ashgrove on June 28, but withdrew it four days later after questioning an application fee.
Aldi stocks beer, wine, spirits and sparkling at selected stores in New South Wales, Victoria, the ACT and Western Australia, but does not sell its range at any stores in Queensland or South Australia due to liquor licensing laws.
Queensland laws state a retailer must own a pub before it can have a license to operate bottle shops. The bottle shop also has to be detached from the supermarket.
A bar and bistro was proposed as part of the Ashgrove application, but it is unclear who would operate the venue.
An Aldi Australia spokesman denied plans to open a separate establishment to sell alcohol.
“The Aldi owned Ashgrove store is under review as its smaller size is restricting the range we can provide customers,” he said.
The spokesman said the application had been made to optimise the real estate potential for any future sale of the site.
The council noted in its pre-lodgement meeting with Aldi that a development application to operate a liquor store within the existing tenancy was not required as the tenancy was already an approved shop, so it is unclear why the application referred to a liquor barn in the space.
When Aldi was asked why it submitted a development application for something it said it did not want to do, the spokesman said the company had explored all options for the site, but stressed, despite the development application proposing a liquor barn use, it did not plan to open a separate establishment to sell alcohol.
A council spokesman said the application Aldi submitted on Friday was the same as the one Aldi had submitted in June.
“The application seeks to convert a retail space into a tavern,” the spokesman said.
“The applicant does not need approval from council to continue using the current supermarket site as a liquor store, however, relevant state government liquor licenses are required.”
The council would assess the application.
