Club pushes for change

Broome’s only nightclub the Bungalow Bar wants to reduce its security staff numbers to bring it into line with other licensed venues in WA.

Club owner and manager, the Roebuck Bay Hotel, has applied to the Department of Racing, Gaming and Liquor to reduce crowd controllers from one per 40 patrons, to two for the first 100 and one for each additional 100 people.

Based on the club reaching its 500-person capacity, it would mean six security staff would be required instead of 13.

Roebuck Bay consultant Mike Windle said the accepted rule for all nightclubs and hotels in WA was two for the first 100, and one for every subsequent 100 people.

The current condition was applied in December 2001 to the premises which was then trading as the Nippon Inn, with different managers.

The liquor licence was transferred to the current management in July 2006, which says it is a well-experienced, professional and responsible team, with well trained and supervised staff.

The Shire of Broome was this week asked to comment on the application by Liquor Licensing director Barry Sargeant.

The local government said it would submit a report to the department based on a visit required in relation to the application by an environmental health officer.

But Shire president Graeme Campbell, also Broome Liquor Accord independent chairman, said the Shire had “no position on the matter”.

“We were asked to respond but council’s core business is in legislative areas such as food handling, health issues, signage, building conditions and car parking — security people is not our business,” he said.

“We will comment on our core business but not the number of security people required.”

Mr Windle said there were big problems with the nightclub 10 years ago when the closing time was reduced from 6am to 2am.

“The place was then sold and six months later the new owners said they had cleaned it up and were willing to have one security person for every 40 patrons, which was accepted,” he said.

“That is where it stands today.

“We bought the place six years ago but we have still got that one- (for)-40 hanging around our neck despite successfully eliminating problem patrons. We have not had a serious problem since we took over.”