IMPORTANT NOTICE: Stage 2 and 3 restrictions are currently still in place. For more information, see:COVID-19 information for licensees
This page provides information on designated dry areas and what they mean for liquor licence applications.
The following areas of the Cities of Whitehorse and Boroondara are dry areas:
View a Map of the dry area.
The Victorian Commission for Gambling and Liquor Regulation (VCGLR) will not grant specific liquor licences unless expressly approved by the residents of the adjacent neighbourhoods. Residents vote in a liquor licence poll conducted by the Victorian Electoral Commission (VEC). This restriction applies to the following licence types:
This approval process also applies to relocation of any existing licences to the dry area.
Any dry area poll will be conducted only after the applicant has obtained planning permission from the relevant council (City of Boroondara or City of Whitehorse). The objections process continues to apply and objections may be submitted to the VCGLR. See the Objections page for further details.
A poll can be conducted by way of attendance or postal voting. This is determined by the VEC. The conduct of the poll is specified in the Liquor Control Reform Regulations 2009.
Boroondara or Whitehorse councils may conduct a 'dry area' wide poll. The result of such a poll automatically amends the relevant provisions of the Act to give effect to the majority vote.
The VCGLR notifies the applicant that their application is in a dry area. Once all the required documentation for the application has been received, the VCGLR notifies the VEC.
Boundaries for the liquor licensing polls are determined in conjunction with the VEC. For details about relevant properties and electors that are compiled for the rolls, contact the VEC directly.
The VCGLR orders a vote to be taken and the VEC makes all arrangements for the taking of the vote.
A majority is achieved by halving the number of formal votes plus one.
If a majority of the electors voting formally vote against the resolution, the VCGLR must not grant the licence application, or any other licence application in that neighbourhood, within three years after the poll was conducted.
Liquor licensing polls are generally run using a postal method of voting, however, the VEC can decide that a poll be run using an attendance method of voting. Voting is compulsory.
