By James Atkinson
Residents of an Australian suburb will soon go to the polls to decide the outcome of a High Street liquor licence application.
The poll has arisen as a result of the application by E'LATTE 204, a café located in the Melbourne suburb of Ashburton, to Liquor Licensing Victoria for authorisation to serve alcohol.
Liquor licensing polls are required for premises located within a specific area in the eastern suburbs of Melbourne that was designated a 'dry zone' in 1920 when local residents voted to abolish liquor licences.
A Victorian Electoral Commission spokesman told TheShout that the first poll within the dry area didn't take place until 1965, and it wasn't until the new century that the first 'yes' results started arriving.
"Since then, the results have turned quite abruptly and no liquor licensing poll has returned a 'no' result since 2004," he said.
"Liquor licensing polls happen periodically, with an average of six per year for the last three years."
Voting in the poll is compulsory for people enrolled for State elections who live in the neighbourhood surrounding the venue.
Ballot packs will be sent out to eligible residents, who will simply be asked to vote 'yes' or 'no' on whether a licence should be granted.