The Office of Liquor, Gaming and Racing (OLGR) received the application for an on-premises licence for Bissy’s Cafe in Warrendine Street on January 18, in Cr Rossiter’s name.

Cr Rossiter told the Central Western Daily she did not wish to comment on the application.

She said her daughter Kirstin Rossiter, the cafe’s owner, was the appropriate person to comment on her plans for the business and that she was not available at the time of writing.

The on-premises licence, which would allow sales of alcohol in addition to food, is under consideration by the OLGR. The submission period closed last Friday.

Ratepayers Association president Brian Wood said the location was his main concern and denied that the association was unduly focusing its attentions on Cr Rossiter.

“It’s not because it involves her. Our issue is that it’s a bad street. There’s five-year-olds up to 15-year-olds going over to that shop. People can have a couple of wines or whatever and more often than not they hop into the car, they might not be over [the limit] but it might still affect them,” he said.

Orange City Council approved a development application to operate Gymbaroo, a children’s activity centre, from the cafe on January 30.

Cr Neil Jones said the Sustainable Development Committee of council had not been made aware that an on-premises liquor licence application had been submitted at the time that decision was made.

“I’m disappointed that we weren’t aware of it when the development application for the children’s play centre went before council. The fact that the licence is part of a children’s activity centre and opposite the skate park raises some concerns. I’m not saying I’m objecting to it but it raises some concerns. It comes down to the assessment of the location,” he said.

The liquor licence application form states that the applicant must lodge a copy of the application with the relevant council, neighbours and the nearest police station within two days of applying.

Orange City Council’s director of development services David Waddell said he did not believe council had received a copy.

“To my knowledge we do not have such an application on our files,” he said.

The licensing officer with Orange Police was not available yesterday to say whether police had been notified.

The application is one of 16 liquor applications pending in Orange, including licence transfers and packaged liquor licence applications.

Graze Brasserie in the new North Orange Shopping Centre also has an on-premises licence under consideration.

On-premises licenses have recently been granted to DNA Coffee and The Hardback Cafe in the Orange CBD.