8 August 2013

Liquor Sales, Natural Burials & Open Air Fires

The licencing of premises to sell alcohol, natural burials and open air fires in urban areas are the subject of two consultations currently being undertaken by Ruapehu District Council (RDC).

The RDC public policy unit is seeking public feedback on a draft Local Alcohol Policy (LAP) and proposed changes to the Public Health and Safety Bylaw that would allow for natural burials and rule changes around the lighting of open air fires in urban areas.

RDC Policy Planner, Katherine Ivory, said that council was running the two consultations simultaneously as it was more efficient and cost effective to do so while allowing council to undertake the deliberation process at the same time.

“The new Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act 2012 introduced the ability for councils to adopt a Local Alcohol Policy (LAP) that allows restrictions on licenced premise’s trading hours, location and the number of licences in an area to be set at a district level.”

“The LAP will help to overcome shortcomings in the Sale of Liquor Act 1989 which provided very few ways for council’s and communities to control the supply of alcohol and will replace Ruapehu’s existing Liquor Licensing Policy,” she said.

Ms Ivory noted that the draft LAP has been developed in consultation with the Police and district Health Officers.

“As the LAP will become a guiding document for the District Licensing Committee when making decisions on granting liquor licences it is important for liquor licence holders and other interested parties to take this opportunity to have their say,” she said.

“Making a submission on the draft LAP then allows those submitters to appeal against any aspects of the provisional (alcohol) policy that will be developed based on the draft LAP consultation.”

Ms Ivory said that the consultation on council’s review of the Public Health and Safety Bylaw was proposing substantive changes to the sections covering cemeteries and open air fires.

“The main change to the cemetery section is the proposal to allow natural, or green, burials which involves burying an unembalmed body in a biodegradable shroud or casket,” she said.

“There has been an increasing interest in this type of burial with many other councils around NZ having amended bylaws and setting aside cemetery space to allow for them.”

“The section on open air fires has been redrafted to improve fire safety in urban areas and prevent smoke nuisance.”

“Conditions under which fire can be lit in an open fire season have been amended including; increasing the distance a fire must be from buildings and other combustible material from three metres to five, fires must be lit in daylight hours, there must be an acceptable means of fire suppression to hand and all District and Regional Council fire plans must be met.”

Ms Ivory stated that both consultations open on Tuesday 13 August until Friday 27 September.

“More information on both the draft LAP and Public Health and Safety Bylaw Review can be obtained online at www.ruapehudc.govt.nz , or by calling your local council office.”

ENDS

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