A year-long alcohol ban has been proposed for reserves not in the current Rotorua alcohol ban bylaw following increasing disorder and crime. Photo / File
A year-long alcohol ban has been proposed for reserves not in the current Rotorua alcohol ban bylaw following increasing disorder and crime. Photo / File
Fighting, human faeces, broken bottles and old needles in three Rotorua reserves are among issues putting young people at risk, and may see new liquor bans rushed in.
The Rotorua Lakes Council will hold an extraordinary meeting tomorrow to discuss the proposed year-long bans after concerns were raised about thesafety of children and young people who use the reserves.
If approved, the restrictions would apply all day, every day at the Rotorua Community Youth Centre Trust reserve, the Marist St Michael's Sports Park reserve, the Shambles Theatre reserve and several adjoining council-owned lots.
Both police and the council have had reports of crime and disorder in those areas, according to a report to be presented in tomorrow's meeting.
A campsite surrounded with human faeces at the Marist St Michaels Reserve. Photo / Supplied
The incidents were largely linked to alcohol and had been getting worse in recent months, with problems happening at all hours of the day throughout the week.
The Rotorua Community Youth Centre Trust first contacted the council about alcohol-related incidents on the reserve surrounding their centre in March last year.
This included drinking on site, defecation, urination, intimidation, fighting, and rubbish, including broken bottles and torn aluminium cans, according to the report.
The frequency of such behaviour around young people was considered a major health and safety risk.
In a mid-December complaint to the council, the centre stated that "yet again" adult drinkers, barely able to stand, were asked to move around 10am.
"This is becoming a bigger problem and is no longer safe for youth ... we are at our wits' end."
The proposed areas for a 12-month alcohol ban. Photo / Supplied
The centre's chief executive, Jen Murray, told the Rotorua Daily Post yesterday the issue got worse towards the end of last year and the beginning of this year.
"Our key concern is the health and safety of our young people.
"If there are people intoxicated, it's always going to be a risk."
She said the group, a one-stop-shop for youth services, contacted relevant agencies whenever there was a problem and were always be proactive.
"Any policies that support the health and wellbeing of young people are positive."
Rotorua Youth Centre Trust chief executive Jen Murray. Photo / Andrew Warner
According to the council report, Marist St Michael's Rugby and Sports Club has repeatedly raised concerns about damage to buildings, theft, and significant amounts of rubbish including hypodermic needles.
Two weeks ago, the club asked for a bin to be reinstated where an old playground used to be.
"... The homeless hang out and drink in the reserve, particularly up along their back clubrooms fence under the shade of the tree and then throw their rubbish over into the clubrooms' yard.
"The volume has gotten worse … they have found hypodermic needles as well. On average they easily fill a wheelie bin and there have been times up to a few times a week, usually consisting of cans and bottles."
Rotorua Shambles Theatre lodge has continually reported adults drinking, sleeping and lighting fires on the decks of the buildings and in their reserve.
Vagrants drinking around the building, passing out and taking drugs happened during the day, which created concerns for the safety of staff as well as the children who attended drama classes at the venue.
According to the report, the Rotorua policing team were called to the reserves at least four to five times per week in response to disorder, antisocial behaviour and violence offences, all usually alcohol-related.
An example of this was last Tuesday when a man was taken to Rotorua Hospital with injuries from an assault at St Michael's Rugby Club. The incident involved alcohol.
The police said the three reserves were used by the homeless as a gathering point and often dwellings were set up in these areas, with signs of alcohol consumption, defecation and rubbish always present.
A police spokeswoman said there has been a rise in incidents of anti-social behaviour, crime and disorder in these areas and police supported the council's moves for the ban.
"While Police has an increased presence in these areas, we support any action that can assist in making this area safer for our community."
The Rotorua Daily Post yesterday contacted the sports club and theatre for additional comment.
The issues were discussed in a meeting of the council's Operations and Monitoring Committee last week.
The council's group operations manager Jocelyn Mikaere told the meeting a temporary liquor ban in the area would help with council and police enforcement.
Cartons with empty bottles of beer and spirits surrounding a council lot. Photo / Supplied
Mayor Steve Chadwick urged councillors and ward members to call for the urgent change.
"We need to show real response here around the hotspots that are problematic for us," she said.
"It's not a good example around where young people gather. They themselves are concerned and feeling vulnerable, as are some of our citizens around that area."
The committee backed the urgent need for a temporary liquor ban.
Under a normal process, this would be developed as an extension to the Rotorua District Alcohol Ban Bylaw 201. The next step would be for it to go to a different committee, but this would mean the earliest the ban could be introduced would be mid-March.
Due to the significance of the issue, the committee instead decided to hold an extraordinary full council meeting, which could see the changes in place by the end of this month.
The Rotorua District Alcohol Ban Bylaw 2018 allows for a ban in public spaces for a specific time period.
Before a ban comes into effect the council must give 14 days' public notice and then put up signage.
The ban would be 24/7 for 12 months, after which the ban will be evaluated and reported back to the council.
Liquor bans were already in place in more than 20 other Rotorua reserves and dozens of streets around the district.
Rotorua's liquor ban areas
The new bans, if passed, would add to the following existing areas where liquor bans are already in place.
Suburban shopping centres:
Kawaha Point Koutu Mount View Drive Pleasant Heights Selwyn Heights Western Heights
Parks and reserves
Aorangi Reserve Bloomfield Street Reserve Boielle Park Reserve Fairview Rd Reserve Haumoana St Lakefront Reserve Homedale St Reserve Jade Place Reserve Karenga Park Reserve Karenga St Lakefront Reserve Linton Park Reserve Linton St East Manahi Cres Reserve Mangakakahi Stream Reserve Park Rd Reserve Rowi St Reserve Steeles Lane Reserve Turner Drive Reserve Werrina Cres Reserve
Ohinemutu
Ariariterangi St Kiharoa St Korokai St Makitauna St Mataiawhea St Tunohopu St
Ngongotahā - Roads, reserves, carparks
Elliot Park Reserve Hall Rd Jessie Martin Park Ngongotaha Hall Reserve Ngongotaha Public Carpark Ngongotaha Rd Taui St Western Rd Western Rd Reserve Western Rd Scout Hall Reserve
