Cartons with empty bottles of beer and spirits surrounding a council lot. Photo / Supplied
Cartons with empty bottles of beer and spirits surrounding a council lot. Photo / Supplied
Rotorua Lakes Council has agreed to bring in a liquor ban at and around three Rotorua reserves after reports of crime and disorder in the areas.
But some councillors believe it will simply move the problem somewhere else.
The council agreed to a temporary 24/7 ban for the next 12months at an extraordinary meeting this morning, called for by the council's Operations and Monitoring Committee last week.
The ban will apply to the Shambles Theatre Reserve, Rotorua Community Youth Centre Reserve and Marist St Michael's Sports Park Reserve and four other council-owned lots.
According to the report in the council agenda, reports of crime and disorder in those areas were linked to alcohol and had been getting worse in recent months, with problems happening at all hours of the day throughout the week.
This included drinking on site, defecation, urination, intimidation, fighting, and rubbish, including broken bottles, used hypodermic windows and torn aluminium cans, according to the report.
One criteria for a temporary ban is evidence an area has experienced a high level of crime or disorder caused or made worse by alcohol consumption.
The proposed areas for a 12-month alcohol ban. Photo / Supplied
At the meeting council's strategy development manager Rosemary Viskovic said behaviour in the area had been worsening in recent months.
"There's been disorderly behaviour, intimidation, fighting, drinking, lots of evidence of broken bottles, lots of evidence of alcohol having been a major contributor.
"Most people agree that it's not okay for this behaviour to be going on around our children and young people in particular."
A campsite surrounded with human faeces at the Marist St Michaels Reserve. Photo / Supplied
In order to make the 12-month ban permanent, the council would need to review its alcohol ban bylaw which would be a lengthy process, Viskovic said.
Councillor Merepeka Raukawa-Tait supported the ban but said she believed it was simply moving the problem.
"I think it will get worse and I think we need to prepare ourselves for that in the near future."
Mayor Steve Chadwick agreed.
"I've got no doubt this issue won't go away until we address the wider issues of housing and community safety ... I feel very satisfied with the strategy that we've got that will come out in the Long-term Plan for the community to respond to."
Viskovic acknowledged the ban could have a flow-on effect in terms of moving people from one area to another but said "making sure the places where our young people are, are safe for them to be is a priority".
At the meeting, councillor Tania Tapsell said behaviour in the area had "obviously been a difficult problem for a number of years" so was happy to support the ban.
Before the ban comes into effect the council must give at least 14 days' public notice.
After declaring the temporary alcohol ban the council must erect signage at least seven days before the ban takes effect.
The ban was supported by The Rotorua Community Centre, Marist St Michael's Rugby and Sports Club, and Rotorua Shambles Theatre, Te Whānau Tokotokorangi Trust, council officers and Rotorua police.
Before implementing the bans, the council had already increased city guardian patrols, put a mobile CCTV camera on site and issued trespass notices.
According to the report, these measures had not been effective.
