There are fears of a “turf war” escalating on the Peninsula following a ramraid at a newly opened tobacco shop at Ettalong Beach on August 6 followed up by a firebombing of the same premises on August 9.
Peninsula Chamber of Commerce President Matthew Wales said the proliferation of tobacco outlets, selling “chop chop” tobacco with no excise or duty paid had been discussed at a recent Regional Advisory Council Meeting at NSW Business Central Coast.
“This has become a major cause for concern following a ramraid on August 6 at newly opened premises in the Rocks Arcade at Ettalong Beach,” he said.
“Then in the early hours of August 9 the same store was firebombed.
“The Chamber is concerned that this is the beginning of a ‘turf war’ in our local community.
“We now have four tobacco outlets in Ettalong Beach which raises questions as to how they are surviving in such a small centre where previously we only had one legal business.
“The same is happening in both the Umina Beach town centre and Woy Woy.
“Questions have also been raised as to whether these outlets have Council approval and in a number of cases, the advertising/signage is clearly in breach of the Codes SEPP (State Environmental Planning Policy) and Council’s own signage guidelines.
“I understand that this issue is a NSW Health matter.
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“I also understand that the Minns Government is allocating funds as part of its crackdown on illegal tobacco sales and vape sales but it appears that the number of additional inspectors is very limited.”
Wales has asked Member for Gosford Liesl Tesch to advise what steps the NSW Government is taking to crack down on illegal sales and the proliferation of tobacco shops and what protections are being put in place to care for the community’s health and wellbeing and to prevent potential local turf wars.
“We certainly don’t want to see a repeat of the problems currently being experienced in Melbourne,” he said.
Wales has also asked Central Coast Council to review the tobacco outlets on the Peninsula (and particularly Ettalong Beach) to ascertain if they are trading under valid consents and whether the signage complies with the Codes SEPP and Council’s DCP (Development Control Plan) controls.
“The Chamber is getting a lot of local push back on this issue from both retailers and residents,” he said.
A Central Coast Council spokesperson said the use of an existing retail shop as a tobacconist does not require Council approval.
“The shop’s signage also does not require approval so long as the signage is compliant with the State Environmental Planning Policy (Exempt and Complying Development Codes) 2008 (SEPP),” the spokesperson said.
“Where the requirements of the SEPP are not being met, Council may investigate and take enforcement action where appropriate, in line with our Regulatory Policy.
“We encourage members of the community concerned about compliance matters to make a report directly to Council so that the matter can be investigated where required.”
The spokesperson said Council will investigate the specific concerns raised by Wales.
Council also advised that the regulation of tobacco products sold in retail shops in NSW is a matter for NSW Health.
CCN has approached Member for Gosford Liesl Tesch and NSW Police for comment.
Terry Collins
Won’t someone please address the ‘elephant in the room’ here!
this is disgusting and sad ,we moved from Newcastle 20 years ago this is our beloved ettalong NOT Melbourne !!!4 smoke shops ! disgusting