Still in its infancy following September’s elections, the council will be tested when it rules on the merits of granting consent for a liquor outlet to open just metres from two schools – Wade High and Griffith East Preschool – and a day care centre.

Also on the agenda is a clause, which if passed, will pave the way for the first stage of the $240 million Sunset Waters development to finally progress.

Despite a flood of opposition from Wade High School’s parents and teachers, Griffith Police and local MP Adrian Piccoli, planning staff have recommended council approve a development application (DA) allowing the Driver IGA Supermarket to operate as a liquor outlet.

According to a petition initiated by Margot Crowley, the former vice-president of Wade High’s Parents and Citizens (P & C) Association and bearing the signatures of 159 people, the establishment of the liquor outlet so close to the east Griffith school precinct risks “students’ safety and security if inebriated people use the school as a thoroughfare to purchase more alcohol”.

P &C president John Davison said the matter raised a number of moral issues relating to the sale of alcohol.

“With a number of liquor outlets in Griffith at the moment, another one will just add to the problem; there’s already been a lot of vandalism at the school as a result of that over the years,” Mr Davison said.

“There’s also the possibility it may be purchased and then given to students in the school grounds.”

Driver IGA proprietor Paul Snaidero said he was confident council would rule on the DA “according to its responsibilities under the relevant laws” and emphasised that he and his staff were responsible and trained retailers.

Mr Snaidero did question though why the petition was included as an objection to the DA when its initiator had at a P & C meeting in August apologised for devising the petition, tendered her resignation as P & C vice-president and withdrawn it from circulation.