Removing parklands dry zones hot topic at Adelaide City Council by-election forum
Adelaide City Council has established dry zones across much of the CBD, but it seems the move is not so popular among some would-be councillors, one calling it “draconian”.
City
Don't miss out on the headlines from City. Followed categories will be added to My News.
- Former Adelaide deputy lord mayor Houssam Abiad keeping eye on Central Ward election campaigns
- Prizes, freebies, discounts: Check out the latest subscriber rewards
Abolishing dry zones across the CBD and a post-COVID-19 economic recovery were among hot topics at an Adelaide City Council online by-election forum last night.
Moderated by Local Government Association SA chief executive Matt Pinnegar, more than 100 people watched the Facebook live forum with seven of the eight candidates vying for the council’s Central Ward seat.
In response to a question about whether they backed dry zones, a number of candidates agreed they were not the way to stop public drinking and alcohol-fuelled anti-social behaviour.
Candidate Malwina Wyra called the zones “disgusting” and “ridiculous”.
“It is absolutely discriminatory and it has to go,” Ms Wyra said.
City streets and squares are dry areas at all times, and all parklands, aside from Parks 20 and 21, are dry areas from 8pm to 11am.
The council consulted the community earlier this year about whether its parklands should be 24/7 dry zones.
Candidate Gareth Lewis, whose pub The Kings Head recently went into liquidation, said “draconian dry zone policy” only created more issues.
“Things like dry zones move the problem from area to area, just kicking the can around,” Mr Lewis said.
MORE NEWS
‘Landmark’ as we hit seven days of zero
Labor pushes to force councils to waive rates
Lord Mayor Sandy Verschoor said the successful candidate should be committed to helping drive a strong economic recovery following the COVID-19 pandemic.
Former deputy lord mayor Houssam Abiad previously held the Central Ward seat until he resigned in January to take up a job in Saudi Arabia.
As of today, 622 people – or 5.3 per cent of eligible ratepayers – have voted.
Voting closes on Monday, May 11, at noon.