One of Melbourne’s great simple pleasures is enjoying a wine on the expansive strip of grass outside the Wine Corner Store in Carlton North.
On warm days and nights, visitors come from all over the city to gather there in large numbers for what is a quitessentially Melbourne experience — one celebrated with extra meaning on the other side of the pandemic.
But the old adage that “all good things must come to an end” appears apt here.
Neighbours of the Canning Street institution have been successful in getting the garden party coolers shut down.
News.com.au has learned that Yarra Council has been bombarded with complaints “for several years about amenity impacts associated with people purchasing alcohol from the store and consuming it on the median, including noise, rubbish and unsafe behaviour”.
A spokeperson for the council confirmed that the activity will now be banned. The matter did not go before a council meeting, instead staff “sought legal advice” about the rules of the median strip.
“The advice confirmed that, for the purposes of the Local Law, the median forms part of the road. Alcohol consumption is therefore not permitted on the median at any time,” the spokesperson said.
To give some context, the “median” on Canning Street is exceptionally wide — much wider than most others across the city.
Canning Street is a hugely popular cycling route, preferred by those who do not wish to battle traffic on Brunswick Street. It does not have a huge amount of vehicle traffic because parts of it are sectioned off to cars.
Yarra Council said it had “advised the Wine Corner Store and Victoria Police” and that its approach is “focused on safety and amenity, rather than routinely penalising people who are drinking responsibly”.
On Saturday, the Wine Corner shared an image of a single person sitting in a chair on the median.
“Basically… due to a few unrelenting miserable neighbours who have been non stop complaining to the council — an old classification of the space is now being enforced,” the wine bar wrote.
“Meaning no drinking on Canning St, Drummond St or Rathdowne St. We are pleased to hear today, that children kicking a footy or people lying in the sun is legal.”
The store noted that Yarra Council had “been very helpful” and that “takeaways are still available to take to nearby parks”.
Yarra Mayor Stephen Jolly made a statement on Instagram on Monday, saying he had been contacted by a number of people regarding the Wine Corner Store.
“I’m working with Steve the owner, locals, and the ward councillor to find a solution,” he said.
“Green open space is there to be used by all, while residents have the right to be protected from any idiots who act up.”
But the response from many was instant outrage.
“Extremely disappointing that the complaints of a small number of people get to dictate the way in which many, many people and businesses choose to enjoy the beautiful outdoor spaces that we are so lucky to have access to,” one person wrote.
“As a Canning Street resident, this is the first I have heard of it. Outrageous. Where was the community consultation?” another wrote.
“This is why we can’t have nice things,” a third person wrote.
Others said that activities that help small businesses should be celebrated, not shut down.
“In times like these, any businesses or public space that encourages humans and communities to come together should be fully supported not restricted,” one wrote.
“Lame. I lived (nearby) when you opened and was blown away by the community spirit of enjoying the grassy space together,” another wrote.
The Wine Corner Store owner Steven Mifsud-Ellul, who also lives on Canning Street, told The Agea handful of customers have acted up and he, along with police, acted “immediately”.
“The neighbours were irate and so was I, to be honest,” he said.
“These people that didn’t know how to behave in a public space mistreated my staff, as well as disrespecting my neighbourhood. I made as many changes as I could make within my power. But some neighbours were not happy.”
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