The Queenstown Lakes District Council yesterday adopted a new liquor bylaw for town centres across the region, to be enforced from December 1.
While the council had previously considered a 24-hour liquor ban, which was supported by police, it yesterday agreed on a version that bans possession and consumption of liquor in specific public places year-round between 10pm and 8am.
A 24-hour ban will be in place for the same areas from 6am on December 27 to 6am on January 6, and for the Queenstown areas throughout the Winter Festival.
During the consultation period, QLDC only received one submission, which was from the Alcohol Advisory Council of New Zealand.
It supported the proposed bylaw on the grounds it was "part of a wider strategy to reduce alcohol-related harm in Queenstown".
While the ban includes possession of unopened liquor, a list of exemptions allows people to carry liquor from one specified place to another.
Breaching the bylaw carries a fine of up to $20,000.
Liquor ban
- The liquor ban will be effective in these areas:
- The Lake Wakatipu foreshore area from the One Mile Roundabout to Park St, including Queenstown Gardens.
- Queenstown CBD in the area between the foreshore, Lake St, Man St, Memorial St, Stanley St, Coronation Dr and Park St.
- Part of the Lake Wakatipu foreshore from Frankton Marina to the Kawarau Bridge, along with the Frankton area between Lake Ave, McBride St, Boyes Cres and Bridge St.
- Part of Arrowtown, in the area bordered by the river reserve and Bush Creek Rd, Manse Rd, Caernarvon St, Wiltshire St, Hertford St, Suffolk St, Centennial Ave and Jopp St.
- The Lake Wanaka foreshore area from Sunrise Bay/Edgeware to Penrith Park.
- Central Wanaka in the area between Sargood Dr, Stone St, Meadowstone Dr, Golf Course Rd, Macpherson St, Aubrey Rd, Beacon Point Rd and Penrith Park Dr.
- Part of Lake Hawea in the area between the foreshore, Domain Rd, Cemetery Rd and Muir Rd.
