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Friday 18 April 2008

Draft Liquor Control Bylaw tabled

A Liquor Control Bylaw, aimed at combating alcohol-related disorder, vandalism and littering in parts of Balclutha and Milton, is one step closer following yesterday’s (Thursday 17 April) Regulatory Services Committee meeting.

The Committee yesterday recommended that the full Council determine that a Liquor Control Bylaw is the most appropriate way of addressing alcohol related anti-social behaviour in specified public places; and that it a adopt a draft Liquor Control Bylaw for public consultation. Councillors will now consider these recommendations at their meeting on 1 May 2008.

A Liquor Control Bylaw was drafted by Council staff following a report from the NZ Police to the Regulatory Services Committee on 5 March 2008. Police requested that Council implement a Liquor Control Bylaw to cover specific areas in Balclutha and Milton where police are encountering various difficulties with alcohol related anti-social behaviour.

A Liquor Control Bylaw would impose a 24-hour, seven day per week prohibition on liquor consumption, bringing into, and possession in specified areas.

Clutha District Council Manager Planning and Environment Murray Brass said two such areas flagged by police for consideration were the public toilets by the Balclutha Town Hall and the main shopping area in Clyde St.

“These are two areas where there have been problems with liquor related anti-social behaviour,” Mr Brass said. “These problems have been around for quite a long time and despite Police and Council efforts, with surveillance and monitoring, the problems still exist in these areas.”

The alcohol-related offensive and nuisance behaviour in and around public areas, such as the public toilets in Balclutha in Milton, could intimidate and prevent people from using these facilities The costs involved in cleaning up litter and repairing vandalism in such areas were also substantial and a Liquor Control Bylaw was seen as the most appropriate way forward to address these issues, Mr Brass said.

Regulatory Services Committee members were unanimous in their support of a Liquor Control Bylaw for both Balclutha and Milton. They believed some of the behaviour that was currently occurring near the public toilets in Balclutha was “completely unacceptable” and something had to be done to prevent it

The Clutha District Youth Council has also recommended the full Council adopt a draft Liquor Control Bylaw for public consultation. The Youth Council met on Monday (14 April) and recommended the draft Liquor Control Bylaw also include the boat ramp area at the Arthur Strang Reserve during restricted hours of dawn till dusk.

Mr Brass also reported that following a public meeting held by the Balclutha Big River Promotions group this week, the entire main street area from the intersection of Wilson Road and Clyde St, to the Night and Day store on Essex St, would also be included in the draft Bylaw.

The full Council will consider all these recommendations at its meeting on Thursday 1 May before adopting the draft Liquor Control Bylaw, (including maps outlining the proposed liquor ban areas), for public consultation. The public will then be given a four week period to make submissions on the proposal, and Council will hear from submitters before making a final decision on the Bylaw.