A planning application has been made with the City of Ballarat to turn the Coach House building on Lydiard Street North in Soldiers Hill into a boutique craft beer store. 

In his application, Anthony Perovic said the store would bring vitality to the area, promote local breweries and increase consumer choice for craft beer lovers.

But locals have expressed their displeasure at the plans, with one going so far as to spray paint the words “no grog shop” on a sign next to the location.

Lydiard Street resident Deborah Sykes said the store’s proximity to the train station could lead to drunkenness on trains and safety issues for commuters coming home late at night.

“That precinct already has problems with late-night revellers and alcohol,” she said.

“I just can’t see why an alcohol shop needs to be opened in a residential area.” 

Mr Perovic said he was equally concerned about increased licences in Ballarat, but added that his shop was far different from a big alcohol retailer like Dan Murphy’s.

“I honestly think it promotes moderation in drinking,” Mr Perovic said.

“It’s all packaged alcohol. The prices are fairly expensive.

“There’s no discount alcohol.”

The shop would sell beers from small local brewers that could not find their way into other bottleshops, he said. 

“It’s a way of me providing sustainability to them,” Mr Perovic said.

“We need to keep them afloat. Not only does it provide them with a means of living, but it also promotes them to our city.”

Any redevelopment of the building would fit within heritage guidelines and help revitalise an area that was littered with abandoned buildings, Mr Perovic said. 

City of Ballarat growth and development director Eric Braslis said the council had received two objections over the property. 

He said that liquor applications were assessed against the decision guidelines in the Ballarat planning scheme.

tom.cowie@fairfaxmedia.com.au