Taxi rank move called pointless

MOVING the taxi rank from the Todd Tavern would be like moving deckchairs on the Titanic, say peak alcohol reform campaigners.

taxi rank move

MOVING the taxi rank from the Todd Tavern would be like moving deckchairs on the Titanic, say peak alcohol reform campaigners.

The Todd Tavern’s taxi rank will be moved 50m down Wills Terrace to near the Target car park after consultations between Alice Springs Town Council, NT Police and the Department of Transport.

A Department of Transport spokesman said council intended to move the taxi rank from outside Todd Tavern.

‘‘The Department of Transport, ASTC and Police consider this a safer location as it well lit and closer to a pedestrian crossing,’’ they said.

Alice Springs Town Council ranger manager Kevin Everett said the situation has been monitored for the past few months.

‘‘We have found that both the mini bus zone and the loading zones have become a safety issue in regards to the number of people that have been gathering between 12 noon and 4pm,’’ he said.

‘‘After consultation with the NT Government and the NT Police the mini bus zone is to be relocated to the next block.

‘‘The two mini bus zones will become a multi-zone for commerial passenger vehicles.’’

He said patrons from the Todd Tavern would still have access to two bays for taxis, mini buses and private hire.

Todd Tavern manager Leonie Leach told the Centralian Advocate in October that she had met with Chief Minister Adam Giles and the council to discuss removing the taxi rank as it was not a good look for the hotel.

But People’s Alcohol Action Coalition spokesperson Dr John Boffa says the real cause of the problems was the voluntarily implemented policies not to serve alcohol to customers on foot.

‘‘If they removed that policy, they would destroy the taxi business model overnight,’’ he said.

‘‘Non-Aboriginal people can be served on foot despite the policy. It’s arbitrarily being applied and it’s only being applied to Aboriginal people.

‘‘It’s not helping. It’s creating this situation with the taxis.’’

Mr Boffa said the coroner recommended that people present on foot so their level of intoxication can be better assessed.

‘‘It’s much harder to see if someone is drunk if they’re in a car,’’ Dr Boffa said.