ABOVE: Publican Trevor McDonald at the Mallanganee Hotel. Photo: Susanna Freymark
Susanna Freymark
“He’s the second health inspector who got their ticket out of a cornflake box” – Mallanganee Hotel publican Trevor McDonald is furious.
His pub was closed after a visit from a Kyogle Council inspector.
If Mr McDonald opens without complying with a prohibition order issued by the council, he faces a $55,000 fine.
The order states that Mr McDonald must not cook, serve or sell food at the pub until he gets a clearance certificate from the council.
The order was made on May 20.
On Friday, June 10, not only was the kitchen closed, but the entire pub was shut down.
No food was allowed to be served and the beer stopped flowing.
Mr McDonald said the prohibition order was made because of a Laminex shelf under the kitchen sink. The order stated it should be made of stainless steel for hygiene reasons.
Mr McDonald insisted the Laminex was waterproof and met health standards.
“They had no authorisation to shut the bar,” Mr McDonald said.
He says he has contacted the Australian Hotels Association about the prohibition order.
The shelf is being replaced this Wednesday, some tiling work will be done and the kitchen and pub hopefully reopened by the weekend if it is given the tick of approval.
Mr McDonald has been a publican in Mallanganee for eight years.
For the quiet village, the pub closure is a blow.
The town’s only shop, Mallanganee General Store, is under renovation and only operates as the post office – with no other goods sold there.
Shop owner Tanya Wotton said the delay in stocking the shop was about the scarcity of building material.
“I have been waiting for six months for a company in Casino to supply a shower screen that was supposed to take one week,” Ms Wotton said.
The Mallanganee General Store will be for sale once renovations are complete.
Kyogle Council could not be contacted today, Monday, June 13 as it is a public holiday. We will seek comment from the council tomorrow.
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