Should our holiday liquor bans be extended ??

As you may be aware the possibility of having liquor bans on our island's beaches and associated areas, was raised at the last Waiheke Community Board meeting.

A ban was in force from 9pm-6am from 23 December 2006 to 7 January 2007 inclusive. The reason given was to 'Manage antisocial behaviour associated with alcohol abuse during peak holiday period'.

The ban was for:
the entire length of the following beaches, including foreshore and reserve area of: Onetangi Beach; Palm Beach; Oneroa Beach; Little Oneroa Beach; Blackpool Beach; Surfdale Beach; Mary Wilson Reserve; Omiha Beach; Rocky Bay Beach; Sandy Bay Beach; Shelly Beach;
the following streets in Onetangi; the Strand between First Avenue and Fourth Avenue; third Avenue from the junction of Waiheke Road to The Strand; Fourth Avenue from the junction of Waiheke and Onetangi Roads to The Strand;
in addition; Oceanview Road from the wharf at Matiatia to the junction with Puriri Road including the Beach access ways from Oceanview Road to Beach Parade in Oneroa.

Anecdotal evidence suggests that there has been less trouble this holiday season whilst the liquor bans have been in place. There has been a call from some within our community for this ban to be extended for a longer period; some have suggested all year round.

I am proposing to put a resolution to the Community Board at the March 28th meeting that the Community Board support a liquor ban from 9pm to 6am at the locations specified above for the period from Labour weekend to Easter inclusive.

I would really like to get some idea of what Waiheke residents think of such a ban. I can appreciate that there would be a range of views, from those totally in support to those believing that this is yet another case of Council interfering with individual rights. I want people to have had an opportunity to express their support or concerns and I promise to be guided by the feedback received.

Passengers left at Matiatia by Fullers

What do you think about this?
Here are the questions that I want answered:

1. How many passengers were carried on the last ferry sailing from Matiatia? How many staff were on board? Was this the maximum number that were allowed because the ferry did not have maximum staffing? How many times have passengers been left behind at Matiatia this summer? On how many of these occasions were passengers left behind at times when the ferry was not staffed at numbers that would have allowed the maximum number of passengers?

2. What has Fullers done in the past when there have been intoxicated people wanting to take the last ferry back to Auckland? What would Fullers do differently if such a situation was to present itself this Saturday evening? Has Fullers put on later boats than the last timetabled trip back from Matiatia to Auckland? If so, why didn't they do it this time? Will they do it future if there are passengers left behind?

3. When was the ferry terminal locked? Who locked it up? Did this person realise that all these people would be left outside till the 8AM ferry?

4. At what times were the police at the ferry terminal? There are reports that police told passengers that another ferry would be coming to pick up those left behind. Is this true? Did the police return during the course of the early morning and check on those left behind? Did anybody left behind try to contact the police? If they did, what response did they receive.?

5. Council employs security for the Matiatia ferry building. Was security involved in checking the building during the course of early Sunday morning?

Fee free to add your comments to this discussion....