Extend the current alcohol ban in Gisborne city to include areas east of Taruheru River and Cenotaph.

It is proposed to extend the current alcohol ban in Gisborne city to include additional areas east of the Taruheru River along Stout Street, extending south towards Esplanade Road and along Hirini Street towards the port areas.

Option 1: Extend the current alcohol ban in Gisborne City to include areas east of Taruheru River and Cenotaph.

This option enhances protection around the Cenotaph, riverbanks, and key public parks, ensuring these spaces remain safe and welcoming for the community. As noted in the report, an online public petition was circulated on Facebook to stop people drinking at the Gisborne First World War Memorial Cenotaph situated alongside the Kaiti Esplanade. Also, Council staff have observed ongoing escalating damage to the cenotaph because of drinking and littering around the memorial. This has been creating significant damage and creating a stressful environment for the public as well as our staff. Bottles, cans, and other litter are constantly cleaned from the riverside picnic benches and rotunda by our contractors.

Option 2: Maintain status quo: do not alter the current alcohol ban areas mentioned in Option 1 above.

This approach would mean no changes to the existing alcohol ban areas - the current restrictions will remain in place without extending the ban to new locations. The current alcohol ban areas have been in place for some time and are actively enforced by the Police. Retaining the status quo could avoid potential confusion that may arise from modifying boundaries. There would be no additional enforcement burden. However, maintaining the status quo would not address community concerns and would be a missed opportunity to reduce alcohol harm, and may be perceived as inaction by the public.

Preferred option

Option 1: Extend the current alcohol ban in Gisborne city to include areas east of Taruheru River and Cenotaph.

Map - red is the current area and green is the proposed extension.

An alcohol ban is proposed that focuses on key locations where alcohol-related issues have been identified— Kaiti Memorial Park, Kaiti Hub, and the area outside the Kaiti School on Wainui Road.

The overall intent of this proposal is to provide targeted protection to family-friendly spaces, ensuring these areas - dedicated to recreation, shopping, and children's activities - remain safe and enjoyable for their intended purposes. There are 2 options under this proposal:

Option 1 - Broader coverage within the area

This option applies the alcohol ban to a wider area surrounding the key locations, including adjacent streets and public spaces where alcohol-related harm has been reported.

This option provides a larger buffer zone to prevent alcohol-related activities from shifting just outside the designated areas. It further ensures enforcement by using identifiable roads and landmarks as boundaries and offers a more comprehensive approach to maintaining public safety.

Option 2 - Targeted ban area covering only the key sites and areas directly adjacent to Kaiti School, Wainui Road.

This option limits the alcohol ban to the areas around Kaiti Memorial Park, Kaiti Hub and immediately outside Kaiti School on Wainui Road.

This option directly protects the locations most affected by alcohol-related harm. It focuses enforcement on high-priority areas without extending to surrounding streets.

Option 3: Maintain status quo: do not designate alcohol ban areas mentioned in Option 1 or 2 above.

This approach would mean that there would be no alcohol ban areas around Kaiti Hub, Kaiti Memorial Park or Kaiti School. However, the restrictions under the current bylaw will remain in place without extending the ban to new locations. Retaining the status quo could avoid potential pushback from community members or businesses that may perceive the proposed ban as restrictive, leading to dissatisfaction and resistance. However, maintaining the status quo would not address community concerns and would be a missed opportunity to reduce alcohol harm, and may be perceived as inaction by the public.

Preferred option

Option 2 - designate alcohol ban for proposed area as shown in map for Option 2.

This proposal would allow Council to update the current bylaw and all the maps in the existing Council format for improving the overall readability of the bylaw. The meaning and intent of each clause / map will remain the same.

Option 1: Update current bylaw format and all the maps for clarity and readability.

Staff have identified that Council’s bylaw format has been updated since the Bylaw was last adopted in 2015. Also, the maps in the current bylaw are not clearly readable and require updating in line with the current format. This option would allow staff to improve readability of the bylaw and make necessary changes to the bylaw which enhance clarity but do not change the meaning and intent of the bylaw.

Option 2: Maintain status quo: do not update the current bylaw format for clarity and readability.

This approach would mean no changes to the maps or readability of the current bylaw. The current bylaw has been in place since 2015 and requires certain updates in terms of formatting for better readability and clarity. However, maintaining the status quo would be a missed opportunity to improve the bylaw.

Preferred option

Option 1: Update current bylaw format and all the maps for clarity and readability