“It will affect only those business what currently have a licence to trade outside,” Mr Wynne told ABC Radio Melbourne’s Drive program.
While venues won’t need a planning permit to make any changes – including building structures – they will need to “consult” with local government before they go ahead and assume more space.
“They’ll go to the council and they would be required to basically map out what their proposition is because you have to explain how it conforms with the building act, then they should get approval,” he said.
Those with liquor licences will also need to apply to the regulator to have their licence to serve alcohol expanded, but Mr Wynne said this process would be fast-tracked to get business owners a response within three days.
Asked whether local councils were prepared to field hundreds of calls and queries from businesses from tomorrow, Mr Wynne said the state government had committed $87 million to local councils to assist business owners.
“I think that’s an important question, but I know all of the councils are absolutely up for this conversation,” he said.
