Update: Council DID NOT pass this last night (18/12/2007)! I originally reported that they had, but now that the minutes are available it is clear that they didn't!
Yarra council is finally - maybe - moving to ban public drinking, at least from 10pm till 7pm.
Many residents have been asking for this FOR YEARS - and it's one of the few areas that residents, licensees and traders are all in agreement.
The Council will be considering it at the meeting on the 18/12/2006 - you can download the report from the council web site - it is section 4.3 in the report.
My submission to council (3/12/2007) was -
4.3 Entertainment Precincts - Late-night Alcohol Consumption
I have the following recommendations -
(1) Local Law 8 needs to be rolled over as it is near it's 10 year term. This should start immediately, else there is NO point doing anything under it!
(2) Activate Local law 8 immediately, for the whole municipality. The report suggests 10pm till 7am, and this would be much better than the current situation, and I support it as an option.
However a 24 hours ban would be much better.
Looking at the comments in the report (about 10pm-7am ban)-
(a) would allow members of the public to drink alcohol while attending BBQ and family functions etc in Council’s parks and gardens during hours 7-00 m to 10-00 pm ;
If the ban was 24/7, Council Parks and Gardens could be made exempt - from say 7am to 10pm
(b) would allow the Police to manage potential ramifications of the new Tobacco Act legislation in main activity centres;
As would a 24/7 ban
(c) does not address the issue of members of the public drinking alcohol in the street while returning from major venues such as the MCG; and
PRECISELY!! And this is why we have been arguing for this ban for YEARS! WE NEED A 24 HOUR BAN!
We have Olympic park, two tennis centers, and the MCG close by - we can have 10,000 people walking around our streets drinking after a big event!
(d) consistent with Inner Melbourne Action Plan partner City of Port Phillip’s designated drinking ban (10.00pm to 7.00am).
It is more relevant that a 24/7 ban would be consistent with Melbourne, which is our closest - and easily exchangeable with - drinking zone, and therefor much more relevant.
Ian