Council not proceeding with Local Alcohol Policy

THE Central Otago District Council has adopted an ‘‘if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it’’ approach to its consideration of a Local Alcohol Policy (Lap), opting not to proceed with a policy as its current systems have been deemed to be working well.

Adopting a Lap would also expose the council to risk, appeals and costs, councillors at yesterday’s planning and environment committee meeting said.

The council developed a draft Lap and put it out for consultation in 2013, following changes to the Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act 2012 which enabled (but did not require) each territorial authority to develop a Lap for the sale, supply and consumption of alcohol within its district.

However, the council then adopted a ‘‘wait and see’’ approach to the issue, noting other councils around the country which had adopted Laps had been hit with high costs from appeals over their policy, council environmental health team leader Ray Applegarth said.

This view was supported by a recent Massey University study, which revealed ‘‘the process of developing Laps has been largely subverted by appeals from operators with resources greater than most local authorities have at their disposal for this purpose’’, Mr Applegarth said.

He recommended the council not continue with a Lap for Central Otago, saying its current systems worked well and the risks of a Lap were not worth it, and councillors agreed.

Central Otago Mayor Tim Cadogan said it was an example of ‘‘if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it’’.

‘‘The current system is working well, and adopting a Lap would expose council to another level of risk.’’