Local Alcohol Policy 2024 draft amendment

Gisborne District Council proposes to amend the sensitive sites provision in its Local Alcohol Policy 2024 (LAP). This provision manages the proximity between businesses licensed to sell alcohol and sensitive sites.

Sensitive sites are defined under the LAP as educational facilities, marae, spiritual facilities and recreational facilities.

Summary of the proposed changes

We propose to amend the sensitive site provisions in our Local Alcohol Policy 2024, options being considered are:

Option 1 - Status Quo. Keep the current sensitive site provisions but improve readability

This option means no changes to Clause 3.1.1 and 3.1.2, which relate to sensitive sites and minor changes to improve the readability of Clause 3.1.3 (the definition of sensitive sites).

Option 2 - Change the sensitive site provisions

This option includes changes to the sensitive site provisions to:

Exempt all new licence applications within the CBD area from complying with Clause 3.1.1 (the sensitive sites policy for on-licences).
Enable the District Licensing Committee (DLC) to consider exemptions to Clause 3.1.1 for any new licence applications for premises outside the CBD.
Makes minor wording improvements for Clause 3.1.3 (the definition of sensitive sites).

For more detail about the proposed changes, read the Statement of Proposal

Statement of Proposal and Draft Tairāwhiti Local Alcohol Policy 2024

Background and your feedback

Council adopted the Local Alcohol Policy (LAP) at its meeting in June 2024. Council asked for the policy in relation to sensitive sites to go back out to the community to ask their views.

In Oct-Nov 2024 we asked if you agreed or disagreed with the current sensitive site policy and what you wanted to see changed. We received 67 submissions and 1067 votes.

Responses indicated that most didn't support the approach to sensitive sites. Responses from the Police, National Public Health Services, the Chief Licencing Inspectorate and some community members including operators of sensitive sites, were all in support of maintaining the current approach around sensitive sites, as a useful policy tools for managing alcohol harm.

Current sensitive site provisions

within the Local Alcohol Policy 2024

Sensitive sites are addressed in Clause 3.1 of the current policy: Location and Density of Licensed Premises. This section states:

3.1.1 No new licences, except cafes, restaurants and special licences, are to be granted within 150 metres of existing sensitive sites.

3.1.2 Applications for new off-licences are exempt from the requirement to be located 150 metres from a sensitive site providing the applicant can demonstrate they will have no significant impact on the sensitive site. This can be done using measures such as restricting opening hours and prohibiting external advertising.

3.1.3 Sensitive sites are defined as areas, premises or facilities that are considered more sensitive to alcohol related harm. These are educational facilities, marae, spiritual facilities and recreational facilities. Educational facilities include schools, childcare facilities and tertiary institutions, spiritual facilities are primarily places for public and private worship, recreation facilities include parks, reserves, libraries.

Under the current policy

Educational facilities are defined as early learning and child-care facilities, primary, secondary and tertiary institutions and institutions delivering educational services for vulnerable groups such as unemployed, youth or disabled group.
Spiritual facilities are defined as a building or part of a building used primarily for public and private worship, or for religious purposes, including ceremonies, services, instruction or education, or for meetings or social functions directly related to the work of a religious organisation, and includes all land which is held for any of the foregoing purposes.
Recreational facilities are defined as including parks, reserves, skate parks, youth centres and libraries.

Phone	0800 653 800 (24 hours)
Email	service@gdc.govt.nz
Website	www.gdc.govt.nz
In writing	15 Fitzherbert Street Gisborne. 4010 New Zealand

0800 653 800 (24 hours)

service@gdc.govt.nz

www.gdc.govt.nz

15 Fitzherbert Street
Gisborne. 4010
New Zealand