Changes to Applications for Liquor Licences

New changes to the application process for liquor licences came into effect yesterday, May 18. Applicants submitting both online and with hard-copy are now required to also submit a copy of their development consent or approval. Applications without a copy will now be put on hold from processing until completed.

The new changes have been implemented by the Independent Liquor and Gaming Authority (ILGA), after it was found that a large proportion of applications were being submitted uncompleted - without the development consent or approval. ILGA found that its staff were spending considerable time chasing the missing information as a result; applications unable to be approved without the development consent or approval copy included.

The new changes to the application process will therefore now mean that applicants without a development consent or approval will be put on hold from the 30-day grace submission period until the application is completed.

Micheil Brodie, Chief Executive of ILGA said: “For every application that is lodged without development consent or approval it takes staff on average an extra 18 minutes to assess an application.”

“The findings have implications not only for authority staff, but also for applicants who are waiting for their complete applications to be processed. It has been recognised that methods which allow authority staff to readily identify complete applications will speed up processing and approval times, and reduce/prevent costs that some applicants incur while applications are waiting to be assessed and determined”, Mr. Brodie added.

ILGA is currently updating the online system to reflect these changes. It is important to note that the new changes will not affect applications submitted before May 18.

For more information, visit www.ilga.nsw.gov.au

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