Community board supports extension to liquor ban

September 12th, 2012
[by David Armstrong]

The Motueka Community Board is supporting council's amended Control of Liquor in Public Places bylaw that will see the area of the 24-hour ban extended to include Thorp's Bush, Memorial Park, the Skate Park and Port Motueka.

As well, a large chunk of public areas in the Motueka and Riwaka urban areas will be subject to a 7pm to 7am liquor ban.

Sergeant Rob Crawford, of the Motueka Police, attended yesterday's community board meeting to explain the recent history with the liquor ban and why police wanted the ban area widened beyond the current roughly 100m each side of High Street.

He said parents in family groups wanting to have a picnic with a beer or wine in Thorp's Bush, for example, need not fear prosecution as police were given discretion under the bylaw to ignore liquor use that was not causing a problem to anyone.

The 24-hour liquor ban will be enforced in public places located in the central business area and other areas on or encompassed by Vosper Street, Wilkinson Street, Taylor Avenue/Avalon Court, Thorp’s Bush, Woodlands Avenue, Whakarewa Street, Manoy Street, Rugby Park, Talbot Street, Pah Street, Motueka Memorial Park including the walkway to Poole Street, Poole Street, High Street, Inglis Street.

Also included are the public places located on or adjacent to North Street Reserve, including the saltwater baths; on or adjacent to Everett Street, Massey Street, George Quay, and East Quay including the Motueka Beach Reserve, and on or adjacent to the skateboard park on Old Wharf Road.

Rob Crawford said police initially take the approach of informing and educating first offenders so they see the error of their ways, but after that enforcement is very strict. The community board voted to make a submission to council supporting the amendments to the bylaw.

(The proposed bylaw and details of the resulting changes in Motueka, Riwaka and Kaiteriteri can be viewed by downloading this web page, which has two associated documents with areas described as well as maps. Submissions to council must be made by 4.30pm on Friday, 21 September 2012.)

Youth Council activities
The Motueka branch of the Tasman Youth Council made a presentation to the board outlining the projects they are currently working on. The most important one is to set up the old cafe area of the Recreation Centre as a youth lounge.

The Youth Council has identified the need for a place that youth can hang out, and the Recreation Centre's manager Jody Maru, who also co-ordinates the Youth Council, suggested that would be a good place. They are currently looking for second hand furniture for the area, and Councillor Eileen Wilkins suggested they apply for discretionary funds to help.

The Youth Council is also helping plan the design and painting of a mural for the skate park toilet block, and will also talk with the Te Awhina Marae about combining forces to come up with a youth hub for the town.

Disappearing postbox
Following a complaint in the pre-meeting public forum, the board heard that the post box on Thorp Street near Krammer Street is being decommissioned, meaning all residents on the east side of High Street will be able to post letters only in the town centre. The board agreed to write to NZ Post asking that this decision be reversed.

Air quality report
In a first for the community board, recently installed equipment in the council meeting room was used for a video link to council staff in Richmond to discuss the report of air quality in and around Motueka. This saved two staff a trip to Motueka.

The report said generally Motueka town had very good quality air, but complaints were received from time to time about orchard burn-off. Council staff talk with the orchardists to help them choose suitable times and methods for burning off to kill canker in ways which minimise air pollution.

Discretionary grants
The community board approved two grant applications this month: $500 to Motueka SPCA to help with the castration of male cats in the area; and $496 to Motueka Yacht and Cruising Club to provide structures allowing dinghy launching access from the North Street car park to the sand beach adjacent to the saltwater baths.

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