Alcohol, gambling on radar
1 September 2015Waipa District Councillors have put alcohol and gambling in the spotlight as key policies come up for review.
Eleven public submissions were considered today [Tuesday, Sept 1] in response to a review of the district's Gambling Venue Policy. A further five public submissions on the Public Places Alcohol Bylaw were discussed.
Council staff advised there is strong support for Council's existing Gambling Venue Policy which says where gaming venues can be located and how many gaming machines are allowed. The Board Venue Policy defines where stand-alone TABs can be located in the district.
Environmental services team leader Karl Tutty said submissions plus informal feedback indicated that the district's gambling policies were working well.
There is strong support for the cap of 232 machines in the district to remain, despite the predicted population growth, he said.
Some submitters had requested further restrictions on where gambling venues could operate. Others requested that the $600 deposit that must be paid with applications to install gambling machines be non-refundable.
Tutty said submissions on the Public Places Alcohol Bylaw also indicated support for retaining a bylaw and support for the liquor ban in place at some venues during events.
Local police noted the establishment and enforcement of the liquor ban had helped decrease crime in the district, specifically violence and disorder in public places, Tutty said.
There was support for the bylaw to exempt the Cambridge Town Hall from the liquor ban while allowing community events in the piazza.
The committee has accepted the staff recommendation that there be no changes to the draft Gambling Venue Policy as a result of submissions. A minor change is proposed to the Public Place Alcohol Bylaw. The policy and the bylaw will be formally adopted at the September Council meeting.
For more information, please contact: Jeanette Tyrrell 027 5077 599