Draft Local Alcohol Policy out for community consultation

The Timaru District Council is running this consultation on behalf of the South Canterbury Councils (Waimate, Mackenzie, and Timaru District Councils).

In preparing the draft policy, the views of the community about alcohol licensing matters have been sought through discussions with key stakeholders, including Police, the Medical Officer of Health, industry representatives and health and community groups.

“The review to date indicates that the current policy is broadly achieving the intended outcomes, so the councils are proposing to keep the policy relatively the same,” Timaru District Council Group Manager Environmental Services Paul Cooper said.

“The proposed amendment is around special licences, about previous history of events being taken into account by the decision maker.”

Cooper said the joint committee which has involved two councillors from each council’ has worked well, and the three councils have worked well on the joint local alcohol policy since its inception in 2016.

“It has been a big piece of work already for the review team and still with an election in the middle of it all, but we are finally at a point where we can take something out to the community,” Cooper said.

Submissions are open and close October 30. Submissions can be made electronically via the council website https://www.timaru.govt.nz/tell-us/current-consultations, or via completing the submission forms, which are available at the Timaru District Council office.