Council makes bid to fast track liquor licensing at pre-approved locations

AN extra layer of red tape for organisations wanting to host events with alcohol on council land has been removed. SEE THE LIST OF APPROVED PLACES HERE

Alice Springs Town Council has approved a list of locations where alcohol can be supplied at an event once a liquor application has been approved

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ALICE Springs Town Council has approved a list of locations where alcohol can be supplied at an event once a liquor application has been approved.

The list comes as a layer of red tape for organisations wanting to host events with alcohol on council land has been removed.

Council approved the consumption of liquor in public places, subject to approval from the Liquor Commission.

The Liquor Act 2019 came into force on October 1. Under the previous legislation the NT government, through Licensing NT, managed and issued liquor permit applications with the process requiring the council to review and endorse.

The new proposed system removes the step of the commission coming back to council with a request, and council has to pre-approve a list of its managed lands where alcohol can be consumed responsibly at an event.

Council will issue approved locations via gazette notice.

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Mayor Damien Ryan said compliance and enforcement would be easier with the new system. Control of the permits now sits with council, who provide exemption of these properties to the Liquor Commission.

Previously, it took 30 days for council to gazette a place, meaning if an organisation sought approval for an event later than that it would not be approved in time for the event.

“Before, if you were a sporting body about to play and you wanted to sell alcohol, you have to go to the Liquor Commission to get a licence and they are going to say, ‘Has the council gazetted that?’,” Cr Ryan said.

“I’ve seen it happen in other parts of the Territory, people who regularly use the facility go to the licencing at the last minute to get a licence and are now being told, ‘It hasn’t been gazetted by the council you cant do it’.”

Council’s list includes the whole of Anzac Oval, Anzac Hill carpark, Traeger Park, Jim McConville Park, Albrecht Oval, Flynn Drive Oval, Rhonda Diano Oval, Ross Park soccer fields, Pat Gallagher Netball Centre, Sadadeen Oval, Totem Theatre, Andy McNeill Function Room and lawns at the Civic Centre and library.

During a council meeting on Tuesday, Cr Ryan proposed the Aquatic and Leisure Centre be included in the list.

“I’ve seen the issue at other councils in the Territory, like showgrounds and grounds that have not been gazetted, and people turn up to run their event … and they can’t do it because they can’t get their licenscing because the land’s not been gazetted,” he said.

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Cr Matt Patterson was in support to add the centre to avoid a last minute application from Masters Games, who host events every two years.

But Cr Marli Banks said liquor consumed near the pool would “put greater risk on our lifeguards and therefore our organisation”.

Cr Jimmy Cocking said: “If it’s an area that’s adjacent to water I think we are opening ourselves up to liability.”

The matter was deferred to council’s next meeting.

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