Stop new booze store, says irate councillor

Papakura town centre does not need another liquor store. Photo / APN

An Auckland councillor wants a proposed liquor store in Papakura town centre to be stopped from setting up business.

Former Papakura mayor and now ward councillor Calum Penrose said the district had too many liquor stores, and the aim should be to reduce their numbers not add to them.

A proposal has been put forward to establish a new off-licence liquor outlet at 29 O'Shannessey St. Those looking to set up business must first apply for a liquor licence to the District Licensing Agency.

Mr Penrose said that if an application was put through, he would oppose it because the area did not need another liquor store.

"There are liquor stores right throughout the south [of Auckland]," he said.

"It gets to the point where enough is enough. We have to put a line through the sand and say that's it."

O'Shannessey St has at least two other liquor businesses, O'Shannessey Discount Liquor and Brew Craft - a store that supplies ingredients for brewing beer, wine and making spirits.

At nearby Roselands Mall the Countdown supermarket sells wine. A Liquorland is a few blocks away on Railway St and three other liquor outlets are in nearby East St, Elliot St and Queen St.

"When you walk down the road, just about every corner you walk past there's a liquor store," Mr Penrose said.

The easy availability of alcohol to teenagers was also a big issue, he said.

Mr Penrose said many people were against having more liquor outlets in their neighbourhoods.

The stores led to more crime, anti-social behaviour and family violence - something no one wanted in their home, Mr Penrose said.

"We don't need any more of these liquor outlets in Papakura. In fact, we need fewer outlets and that's one of the reasons why Parliament is progressing the Alcohol Reform Bill."

The bill, which is expected to be reported back to Parliament this month, would give local communities more control over the number of liquor outlets in their neighbourhoods.