MEDIA RELEASE DATE: 8 Nov 2012

Have your say on District’s Liquor Control Bylaw

The South Taranaki District Council (STDC) has recently reviewed the District’s Liquor Control Bylaw and wants to know what you think about it by 10 December.

The proposed Bylaw identifies public areas where alcohol is banned and looks to extend or introduce new Liquor Ban Areas in a number of South Taranaki towns.

STDC group manager of environmental services, John McKenzie, says the Council has proposed changes to its existing Liquor Control Bylaw in response to requests from the Police and the Patea and Egmont Plains Community Boards.

“They were concerned that alcohol being drunk in public places has resulted in an increase in anti-social behaviour and vandalism in some parts of our townships,” says Mr McKenzie.

“We have made the changes they requested in our proposal and want to know what the wider community think before Council makes a final decision,” he says.

The main changes in the proposed Liquor Control Bylaw are;
- extending the streets included in the Hawera Liquor Ban Area.
- including McCallum Park, Beech Place Reserve and the Hawera BMX Track as Liquor Ban Areas.
- introduce a Liquor Ban Area to the Normanby Domain and Carpark.
- include Eltham Cemetery in the Liquor Ban Area.
- extend the Manaia Liquor Ban Area to 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, all year round.
- extend the Opunake Liquor Ban Area to cover the whole town (excluding the Opunake Beach Holiday Park) 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, all year round.
- introduce a Liquor Ban Area to cover the whole of Patea including Patea Beach, Patea Cemetery, public parks and reserves, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, all year round.

Mr McKenzie says it’s important to understand that a Liquor Ban Area does not mean you are breaking the law if you are travelling through the area with unopened alcohol.

“You might have bought a bottle of wine and be driving home through a Liquor Ban Area – which is perfectly fine,” he says.

“The Police have the discretion to use the Liquor Ban Areas – not as a draconian measure but as a tool to nip anti-social behavior in the bud before it escalates.”

Mr McKenzie says New Zealander’s drinking habits and alcohol reform is currently a hot topic and urges all residents to look at the proposed Bylaw.

“This is your chance to let the Mayor and Councillors understand your views about the proposed Liquor Control Bylaw, so please take the time to have your say,” he says.

Full or Summary copies of the proposed Liquor Control Bylaw, with submission forms, are available from any LibraryPlus facility, the Council’s Administration Building in Albion Street or on the Council Website www.southtaranaki.com .

Public consultation runs from 9 November until 10 December 2012.

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