[comment caption=Is an extended liquor ban for North Dunedin a good idea?]People wanting to add a bottle of wine to their picnic basket for a visit to the Woodhaugh Gardens could find themselves facing arrest if an extended liquor ban for North Dunedin goes ahead, a Dunedin city councillor has warned.
Cr Michael Guest repeated concerns he had raised in the past during debate on a proposal to extend a ban on carrying open bottles of alcohol, or consuming alcohol in public places, to North Dunedin.
The debate on the issue was reopened after Dunedin area commander Inspector Dave Campbell sent a letter to the Dunedin City Council earlier this year asking for the issue to be publicly debated, at least the third time he has raised the matter.
Insp Campbell said at the time a high level of damage and disorder continued in the area.
Drunk students caused fires, assaults, wilful damage and disorder in North Dunedin, and the behaviour witnessed in the student quarter would not be tolerated in other parts of the city.
The council planning and environment committee yesterday discussed a report on the issue, which suggested public consultation on a two-year trial of the extended ban, a definition of the objectives of the ban, and consideration of other measures to complement it.
Council liquor licensing and projects officer Kevin Mechen said in his report the issue of the extension was complex, and might be only part of the solution.
The University of Otago had given conditional support for a two-year trial, as long as formal evaluation was undertaken during and after the trial.
Cr Guest, the committee chairman, said there needed to be a "really good reason" to accept the ban.
A temporary ban during last year's Undie 500 had not stopped trouble, and the ban could give police "awesome powers".
Cr Chris Staynes said he was nervous about a blanket rule to deal with specific problems, and suggested the ban could be between 11pm and 9am.
The committee voted for a working party to produce a fuller report for the next committee meeting, with a clearer idea of other options.
