A group calling themselves the Concerned Citizens of Howlong last year lead a push back against the application, which included 128 public submissions to the Independent Liquor and Gaming Authority (ILGA).
Committee member, Marion Billing said that with four liquor outlets already in Howlong, another wasn’t needed, and that the proposed location wasn’t ideal.
“There was a committee of about five or six people,” Marion said.
“There were a few people giving us a hard time about it, saying, “what does it matter; it's just something for the public to use”.
“We didn't want it, not on that corner.”
The proposed site was the vacant block on the corner of Hawkins St and Sturt St, next door to the Courthouse Hotel, a busy thoroughfare between Corowa, Rutherglen and Albury.
Corowa Free Press understands that Federation Council and Transport NSW had both approved applications by BWS to build a liquor store on the site.
All that was pending was the liquor license.
“It’s such a busy corner,” Marion said.
“There were 32 trucks going by in half an hour when we were there one day with a man from Transport New South Wales.
“He was amazed, given that Transport NSW had approved the application.”
Federation Council held a meeting with the people of Howlong in November 2024, informing them they would be passing the BWS building application at the council meeting later that month.
Despite objections from the public, Cr Derek Schoen was unable to get a secondary vote to block the application, and the motion passed.
After public submissions to the ILGA closed in March, the application was reviewed and the decision handed down on August 25, denying the application.
Concerned Citizens of Howlong were not directly informed of the decision but The Free Press was last week able to confirm that the application was denied.
The document provided by the ILGA said that in reviewing the application they were not satisfied the overall impact of approving the application would facilitate the balanced development, in the public interest, of the liquor industry, or that it would contribute to, and not detract from, the amenity of community life.
Marion and the rest of the Concerned Citizens of Howlong committee would like to thank everyone from the public who took the time and effort to make written submissions to the ILGA in support of blocking the BWS development.
The block of land in question has since been put up for sale.
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