Councillors voted at yesterday’s Council meeting to extend three temporary alcohol-free areas for this year’s summer and New Year’s Eve period. The areas include Mount Maunganui North, Gordon Spratt Reserve in Papamoa as well as ASB Baypark and surroundings. The extended temporary alcohol-free zones are in response to a request from NZ Police to support their operations in the New Year’s Eve period 2017/18.
An extension of the permanent alcohol-free zone for Mount Maunganui North, south to Hull Road and Tweed Street over the existing timeframe from Tuesday, 26 December 2017 to 6am on Saturday, 6 January 2018 has been put in place. This extension had been trialled at last year’s New Year’s Eve operations and will be part of the safety measures for this year’s New Year’s Eve period. It will also include Waiariki Street in Arataki.
To enhance safe community celebrations in Papamoa, the permanent alcohol-free zone at Gordon Spratt Reserve has been extended to include Alice Way from 10am on Sunday, 31 December 2017 to 6am on Wednesday, 3 January 2018. This extended alcohol-free period will support Police operations at Council’s New Year’s Eve community celebration as well as at the park and ride location for the Bay Dreams Music Festival being held at ASB Baypark on Tuesday, 2 January 2018.
The third extension applies to the ASB Baypark park and ride pick up and drop off locations as well as the immediate surrounding areas of ASB Baypark. Temporary alcohol-free areas will be in place from 10am on Tuesday, 2 January 2018 to 6am on Wednesday, 3 January 2018 to support Police operations in response to the Bay Dreams Music Festival at Baypark on Saturday, 2 January 2018.
Mayor Greg Brownless reinforces the importance of a safe summer in Tauranga.
“A temporary alcohol-free zone in these three areas will support the Police to limit alcohol harm and manage public disorder in public places. This will benefit the local community, visitors and support the efforts of Council and the NZ Police for a safe and successful New Year period in Tauranga,” Mr Brownless says.
Area Commander Inspector Clifford Paxton welcomes the support from Tauranga City Council in providing a safer New Year’s period for the community.
“The temporary alcohol-free zone extensions will enable NZ police to act early to stop any incidents at locations where the temporary alcohol-free zones are in place,” Mr Paxton says.
"We hope that the message goes out far and wide and that people celebrate responsibly this year.”
Residents in the affected areas will be informed by letter. Signs advising the public of the temporary alcohol ban will be installed at the affected locations.