Local Impact Assessment – Liquor and Gaming

Businesses that operate gaming machines must get approval from the NSW Department of Liquor and Gaming.

A Local Impact Assessment (LIA) must be undertaken by the venue operator and submitted to the Independent Liquor & Gaming Authority to determine. The LIA provides an assessment of the potential impacts of the licence application, both negative and positive and provides a range of management and mitigation measures.

The Department and NSW Police also inspect these businesses to make sure they’re meeting state rules.

For more information, visit the Liquor & Gaming NSW website.

Council's role in the Local Impact Assessment (LIA)

As part of the LIA process, venue operators must provide a copy of the application and LIA to Council and the local police.

Council has 60 calendar days to make a submission to the Independent Liquor & Gaming Authority.

The Independent Liquor & Gaming Authority is the decision-maker responsible for liquor, registered club, and gaming machine regulatory functions including licensing and disciplinary matters under the legislation.

Council has no decision-making role in this process but will provide feedback on the application and any locally specific information that the Independent Liquor and Gaming Authority should be aware.

Making a Submission to a Local Impact Assessment (LIA)

Members of the public can make a submission on a pending LIA. Submissions should be received before the closing date.

Before lodging a submission about a pending LIA, learn more about the process: Preparing an LIA - Liquor & Gaming NSW

Submissions should be made to: gaming.licensing@liquorandgaming.nsw.gov.au

Note: Submissions are not confidential and a copy will be given to the applicant who will have the opportunity to respond. If you wish to keep your contact details confidential, please outline that clearly in your submission e.g. include “Please do not share my contact details with the applicant.”

Local Impact Assessment Public Register

The NSW Department of Liquor and Gaming maintains a LIA Public Register which lists clubs and hotels who have lodged an application to increase their gaming machine thresholds (GMT).

The LIA Public Register: LIA Public Register - Liquor & Gaming NSW

For decisions made by ILGA in relation to certain applications under the Gaming Machines Act 2001, go to the Gaming Decisions | NSW Independent Liquor & Gaming Authority