STONNINGTON: Anti-social ‘free-for-all’ on Chapel St
Prahran MLA Rachel Westaway has asked that the State Government prepares a comprehensive report on the granting and enforcement of liquor licences in the electorate. “Residents in my electorate, particularly along Chapel St, are experiencing increased antisocial behaviour linked to licensed premises,” Ms Westaway told Parliament,
“Since the establishment of Liquor Control Victoria in July 2022 and the automatic extension of trading hours to 1 am in March 2022, my office has received numerous complaints from constituents about late-night disturbances, public intoxication and anti-social behaviour around liquorlicensed venues.
“Increasing the problem is that Chapel St operates under a special regulation, which at face value requires additional licensing oversights for venues trading after 1 am and up to
24 hours a day, including comprehensive venue management plans, security arrangements, crowd control and noise management protocols.
“However, the lack of enforcement and a light-handed approval process has created a free-for-all.
“This has placed increased demands on our already overstretched Prahran Police Station. The recent removal of planning permit requirements in July 2025 has further heightened community concerns about the inadequate oversight.
“The Chapel St precinct is vital to \economy and cultural identity, but this must be considered and balanced with residents’ rights to peaceful enjoyment of their homes.
“I call on the minister to provide a detailed data report on liquor licensing enforcement in Prahran since these regulatory changes took effect.” Ms westaway said.
Ms Westaway said she was interested in: the total number of liquor licences currently operating in Prahran, broken down by licence type and trading hours compared to the pre-2022 figures; second, enforcement actions taken by LCV in Prahran since July 2022, including the number of licensees served with written warnings, infringement penalties, suspended or revoked licences for trading outside permitted hours, serving intoxicated patrons, serving minors or any other offence