18 March 2014

Council to consider alcohol bans

Christchurch City Council will consider extending the permanent alcohol ban area in Riccarton and Ilam.

The Regulations and Consents Committee today recommended that the Council consider extending the permanent alcohol ban area to include the adjacent zone covered by a temporary alcohol ban.

“Staff considered three options: removing the permanent alcohol ban, the status quo in which the temporary ban would lapse on 31 August, and extending the permanent ban,” says Committee Chair Councillor David East.

“Staff have worked closely with residents, police and other agencies and felt option three was the best solution to addressing alcohol issues in the area. The committee has endorsed this approach to Council.”

Other changes to be considered are to adopt permanent alcohol bans in Sumner on New Year’s Eve and an area of Addington on New Zealand Trotting Cup Day.

“The recent introduction of temporary alcohol bans in these areas has been reviewed and, with the backing of police, it is proposed they are made permanent,” says Mr East.

“In Sumner, this will close a gap within the permanent alcohol ban which currently applies from Thursday to Sunday. Under the proposal, it will apply every New Year’s Eve, regardless of what day it falls on.”

To make the changes will require an amendment to the Christchurch City Council Alcohol Restrictions in Public Places Bylaw and part of that process means asking people what they think.

If approved by Council, consultation will occur in May and June 2014 and a hearings panel will be set up to consider submissions and report back to Council.

To read the reports as they were presented to the Committee, go to the meetings, agendas and minutes section of the council website at www.ccc.govt.nz found under the tab, “The Council”.

Background
The Christchurch City Council Alcohol Restrictions in Public Places Bylaw 2009 was amended in December 2011 to include a permanent ban in Riccarton/Ilam. At the time the ban was introduced, the Council decided it should be reviewed after two years.

Two temporary alcohol bans have been introduced in Upper Riccarton from 10 June 2013 to 10 December 2013, and again from 1 February 2014 till the end of August 2014.

A temporary alcohol ban applied in Sumner on New Year’s Eve 2012 and 2013.

An area of Addington was subject to a temporary alcohol ban for New Zealand Trotting Cup Day 2013.

ENDS

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