Manurewa Local Board Objects to proposed new Clendon Liquor Store

The Manurewa Local Board and Manurewa-Papakura Ward Councillor Calum Penrose are objecting to an application for an new off-licence liquor shop proposed in Clendon.

Manurewa Local Board Chair Angela Dalton says that the number of off-licences in Manurewa is already too many, and that a clear message needs to be sent that ‘enough is enough’.

“All the evidence points towards the supply of alcohol being closely related to the harm caused by alcohol.” Says Ms Dalton.

“The Manurewa Local Board will be objecting to this licence on the basis that it will do nothing to minimise the harm caused by excessive or inappropriate consumption of Alcohol in our community, but will in fact make things worse. We will also be arguing that it is within a very close proximity to a number of key community facilities, such as a number of health centres, Schools, and a Child Youth and Family Office, all of which will be negatively impacted by the new off-licence.

“We will do everything we can under the law to object to this licence, and will be encouraging everyone in the Clendon community to have their say to the Auckland Council District Licencing Agency.

Manurewa Local Board Deputy Chair Simeon Brown who lives in Clendon says he will be supporting members of the Clendon Community to object to this new license, as it will it only continue to increase the amount of harm caused by alcohol in the community.

“The Clendon community has a long history of objecting to liquor licences in the Clendon area. We have a young population, and there is already an over-supply of off-licence liquor outlets.

"We will be encouraging everyone in our community to object to this licence. A petition is already circulating and formal objections can be made to the Auckland Council District Licencing Agency.” Says Mr Brown.

Manurewa-Papakura Ward Councillor Calum Penrose is concerned that this applicant is applying for his licence prior to the Local Alcohol Policy (LAP) being implemented later in the year.

“Under the draft LAP which was released last week, Clendon is considered a priority-area, and will have a 2 year temporary freeze on new off-licences, and after that will have a presumption against any new off-licences.

“This application is outside the spirit of the Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act 2012 and outside the spirit of the draft Local Alcohol Policy which Auckland Council has been working on for over a year.

Objections can be made in writing to the Secretary of the Auckland Council District Licencing Agency, and must be made by the 29th of May.

ENDS

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