14 October 2005

Auckland City defers alcohol strategy decision

Auckland City's Public Safety and Community Order Committee today deferred its decision on its policy for CBD liquor licensing hours.

This will allow issues raised by submitters to be addressed.

Councillor Graeme Mulholland, committee chairperson, said that further clarification from officers and legal counsel was needed on the relevant section of the strategy (section five, objective eight) before making a recommendation to council.

"We have listened and taken on board the feedback received from the affected groups. We acknowledge and appreciate their view on how the proposed licence conditions would affect their areas of interest and want to ensure we have considered their issues," said Mr Mulholland.

The key issues to be clarified are: * temporary authorities and probationary periods * clarification of the wording in the draft committee resolutions * clarification of "outside seating" and how it relates to outdoor public spaces * clarification of the wording relating to "off licences" and "standalone facilities".

Councillors Mulholland, Leila Boyle and Cathy Casey have been appointed to finalise the wording of the recommendations to send to council.

The committee also resolved to continue working with the Responsible Auckland Region Project and to advocate for more efficient and timely resolution of compliance issues - this includes the development of a Liquor Licensing Authority (LLA) office in Auckland.

ENDS

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