Parklands dry zone trial approved by State Government

A PARKLANDS dry zone trial has been approved just days before Christmas after months of alcohol-fuelled violence and anti-social problems.

A PARKLANDS-WIDE dry zone trial has been approved just days before Christmas after months of alcohol-fuelled violence and anti-social problems in the city’s south.

The Advertiser understands State Cabinet gave the green light this week to Adelaide City Council’s application for an alcohol ban for the parklands.

The trial ban will operate from 8pm to 11am for the next three months - which is two hours less than the council’s application.

But the law changes, which come into effect on Monday, were only formally published in the Government Gazette today after being signed off by Governor Hieu Van Le.

The ban will not affect organised events such as Fringe and Adelaide Festival events, which operate under separate liquor licence.

The dry zone will be welcomed by residents and the council, but some have criticised the delay in approving it, as authorities grappled with escalating anti-social behaviour.

Calls have mounted for almost six months for a 24-hour alcohol ban after residents and workers reported an escalation of drunken violence, vandalism and attacks on wildlife around Veale Gardens and South Tce.

Police have arrested dozens of people and residents reported the problems had left the area resembling “war zone”.

The crisis has prompted fears of a “serious injury or death” while the council was forced to ban its workers from the area at one point and later returned only under police guard.

The problems also prompted a political row between Ministers and the council in the lead up to last month’s local government elections.

The State Government had repeatedly refused to confirm since Monday whether the dry zone had been approved.

With Consumer Business Services Minister Gail Gago away, her acting replacement Leon Bignell briefed cabinet on the application. Ms Gago has admitted the situation was “appalling”.

Mr Bignell said today: “This is a complex issue and the decision has been made with careful consideration of all those who will be affected.

“We are targeting alcohol-related anti-social behaviour without removing the opportunity for

support services to appropriately address the health and welfare needs of vulnerable people

who gather in the parklands.

“We also recognise that the parklands belong to all South Australians and we don’t want to

inhibit enjoyment of the area.”

The decision came after Liquor Licencing Commissioner Dini Soulio made a recommendation to Cabinet.

Mr Soulio, who had raised concerns about a blanket ban shifting the problem to another city area, consulted with residents as well as a taskforce comprising council officials, police, indigenous leaders, charities and government bureaucrats.

Any plan had to receive backing from police, CBS, which oversees liquor licensing laws, and the member for Adelaide, Liberal MP Rachel Sanderson.

Residents had feared it may not be introduced before the festive season, which has previously triggered fresh problems. They had claimed they were promised an answer last month.

The council last month unveiled a new alcohol ban for the city green belt between 8pm and 1pm for six months after the government said a 24-hour dry zone would not be approved.

A State Government review had uncovered a “mixed” response to the council’s initial proposal in July for a six-month trial banning alcohol in the CBD’s south green belt.

As concern mounted over safety in the area, authorities had insisted they were working swiftly to address the alcohol-fuelled violence and anti-social behaviour in the area.

The trial was originally designed to coincide with summer and daylight savings — a time that traditionally leads to more people drinking in the parklands.

The council had raised fears any trial may now be shorter, meaning it would not provide authorities “with accurate information about how it is working”.

The council’s chief executive Peter Smith has expressed “disappointment” at the delays.

Official figures show police arrested or fined an average of more than three people every day during September.

A community meeting in October heard police had significantly increased their resources in the area.