Liquor licence application processing

Once your application has been lodged and the application fee paid your application will be assessed.

During the assessment you will be contacted by customer service officers and premises inspectors.

  • Customer service officers assess all the documentation lodged, provide advertising templates (if applicable), request police checks on individuals within the applicant entity (you will be invoiced for these) and advise if any additional information is required.
  • Premises inspectors assess the suitability and standard of the premises and the planning approvals required. If any additional information or specific work is required, they will itemise these on a document called the schedule of requirements which will be sent to you.

Advertised applications (public interest assessment applications)

If advertising is required, we will advise the requirements and templates will be provided. A fee of $29 will be payable for the banner that is required for on-site advertising.

The standard advertising period is 14 days.

During this period, objections, interventions or submissions in support of or against your application can be lodged. A copy of any objections, submissions and interventions will be provided to you once the application has been referred for a decision.

Requirements when objecting to an application that is advertised (opens a new window)

Parties that either lodge an intervention or objection will become a party to the application. Anyone who lodges a submission will have their comments considered but are not given the same rights and recognition as an intervener or objector.

Once the advertising period has closed and any interventions, objections and/or submissions collated, the application will progress to a final assessment.

Final assessment (all applications)

In the final assessment stage, the customer service officers and the premises inspectors will ensure they are satisfied all requirements have been met. The application is then referred for determination.

The only items that can be outstanding when the application is sent for determination are:

  • the section 40 certificate (or other planning approval); 
  • the section 39 certificate; or
  • items on the schedule of requirements issued by the premises inspectors. 

In these instances, the application can only be considered for a conditional decision (i.e. subject to these requirements being met before the licence, if granted, can be activated.) 

Next step: liquor licence application determination

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