Newly built Dan Murphy's store faces demolition

Endeavour Drinks Group has expressed disappointment that its newly built store in Sydney's Lilyfield may be demolished.

WestConnex Minister Stuart Ayres said the Dan Murphy's store would be named as the State Government’s only new dive-site option when a design report was released in coming weeks.

The government requires access tunnel for the motorway’s M4-M5 Link and has scrapped a tunnelling site proposed for tram sheds just 36m from the Leichhardt Campus of Sydney Secondary College.

There were widespread community protests about the tunnel being built so close to the school.

Sydney Motorway Corporation had previously indicated it was looking at the tram sheds because of the high cost of acquiring the Dan Murphy's site.

A spokesman for Endeavour Drinks Group told The Inner West Courier staff at the Lilyfield shop were disappointed by the decision to resume the site.

“Dan Murphy’s was only made aware that the store was one of many options being considered for a possible ‘dive site’ after building works had almost been completed,” the spokesman said.

“We continued to build and open the store as we were legally compelled to do so as part of our lease commitments. It fulfilled a project commenced over 10 years ago to introduce our wide range and much loved shopping experience to the inner-west.

"There’s been no further update on the timing of the closure which is still believed to be January/February 2018.”

Workers spent months converting the derelict furniture factory - on land leased from the NSW Government - into a Dan Murphy's store that opened just before Christmas last year.

The Government could be hit with a compensation claim by Endeavour Drinks Group of up to $50million.