Council confirms decision on provisional local alcohol policy

Published on 29 November 2024

We’ve recently decided to discontinue the development of the provisional local alcohol policy.

The decision was made by Elected Members during the Council meeting on 6 November, when it was decided to begin developing a new local alcohol policy.

The local alcohol policy was adopted by the Council as a provisional policy, which means a policy not yet in use, in April 2021. It was not brought into effect because it was subject to an appeals process. The policy was appealed to the Alcohol Regulatory and Licensing Authority by four submitters.

In 2023 Parliament changed the Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act and removed the ability to appeal a provisional local alcohol policy. However, this change only applies to new policies and did not affect existing policies that had already been appealed.

As a result of Council’s decision to discontinue the provisional local alcohol policy, the appeals will now not go ahead. When the Council develops a new local alcohol policy it won’t be subject to appeal, as it will be made under the amended Act.

David Murphy, General Manager of Strategic Planning, says no date has been set to begin development of the new policy.

“We’ve written to all submitters on the provisional local alcohol policy, including the four appellants involved in the current appeal, to notify them of this decision. We’ve also informed the Alcohol Regulatory and Licensing Authority that we will be discontinuing the provisional policy and will not proceed with the planned appeal hearings.

“We remain committed to engaging with the community and all stakeholders throughout the development of the new local alcohol policy. Once the policy development process begins, submitters and the public will be invited to participate and provide input.”