A LONG-awaited decision on a lockout for the city's nightspots is expected to be closer after a hearing today.
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110%The Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal hearing is the culmination of a challenge by nine licensees to a 1 am lockout that was to come into effect in late June. Bendigo police Inspector Paul Newman, who originally submitted for the lockout, said he was confident an agreement had been reached between the director of liquor licensing and the licensees.
Black Swan Hotel owner Andreas Bazzani said that an agreement '‘of sorts'' had been reached, which would probably be for a 2 am lockout.
He said the agreement would depend on negotiations between lawyers for both parties on a list of issues the licensees would like addressed.
Insp. Newman, who supports a 2 am lockout, said he expected director of liquor licensing Sue Maclellan to make a public announcement early this week.
He was confident the outcome would be positive, and said he would be pleased when the matter was finally resolved.
‘‘It's something that I thought would be resolved long before today,'' Insp. Newman said.
The lockout for the Bendigo central business district was the first to be passed since changes were made to the Liquor Control Reform Act late last year.