Liquor & Gaming NSW has taken its Hospitality Concierge regional outreach program to the Northern Tablelands, meeting with local operators to discuss licensing, compliance and opportunities under the state’s Vibrancy Reforms.
The three-day tour saw the team visit Armidale, Tenterfield, Glen Innes and Inverell, engaging directly with licensees and hospitality business owners to share updates and answer questions about liquor and gaming regulation.
Liquor & Gaming NSW Director of Industry and Community Engagement Melanie Brown said the initiative followed a successful regional outreach tour earlier this year in Southern NSW.
“We were keen to meet hospitality business owners in regional areas face-to-face and we appreciate they are busy people, so we decided to go to them,” Brown said.
“We worked with local Liquor Accords in Armidale, Tenterfield, Glen Innes and Inverell to organise the meetings and they encouraged their members and other licensed premises operators to attend.
“We wanted to outline the government’s recent Vibrancy Reforms, such as discounted liquor licence fees for hosting live music, and hear about any issues and suggest ways we may be able to assist.
“The team also provided updates on changes to liquor and gaming legislation and how the Hospitality Concierge can help with licensing and compliance.
“We received positive feedback from those who attended the four sessions, and we got to meet about 55 people who work in the industry and see some of their venues and operations first-hand.”
The Hospitality Concierge is a free NSW Government service that helps businesses and local councils navigate the liquor licensing, planning and regulatory changes introduced under the Vibrancy Reforms. It also provides a streamlined application process for new and existing licensees.
Liquor & Gaming NSW said the regional engagement program will continue to expand, with further outreach planned to ensure operators across the state can access tailored support and information.