ALCOHOL Free Zones will be re-established in Shoal Bay and Medowie.

Following the Port Stephens Council meeting on 23 August, Councillors unanimously voted in support of the re-establishment of the Alcohol Free Zones in Medowie and Shoal Bay, including an extension to the Medowie Alcohol Free Zone.

Advertise with News of The Area today.
It’s worth it for your business.
Message us.
Phone us – (02) 4981 8882.
Email us – media@newsofthearea.com.au

The extended zone in Medowie will expand west along Ferodale Road to the intersection with Kirrang Drive to include Medowie Social, north on Peppertree and Medowie Roads to Muir Street and along the entire length of Muir Street to include new town centre developments.

Councillor Peter Francis supported this extension, noting the region’s low-levels of alcohol-fuelled violence.

“Our LGA is one of the areas in NSW which are well ahead with combating alcohol fuelled violence.

“We’re meeting all the KPIs on reduction and that has come about because of our commitment as a Council in addition to the Port Stephens Hunter Police and local licensees.

“I wholeheartedly support this re-establishment and expansion,” Cr Francis said.

Port Stephens Council Strategy and Environment Section Manager, Brock Lamont, says the Alcohol Free Zones were first established in Port Stephens in 2007 and have assisted in stabilising a number of liquor offences in the Local Government Area.

“These zones have been an effective tool in preventing disorderly behaviour caused by the consumption of alcohol in public areas.

“It is considered that, without the establishment of these zones, there would be an increase in disorderly behaviour in Port Stephens,” Mr Lamont said.

Evidence has indicated that when Alcohol Free Zones are established in appropriate areas and operated with the required level of resources to promote and enforce the zones, they are an effective tool in assisting Police to manage alcohol-related crime and improve public safety.

Within these zones, an enforcement office has the power to issue warnings, seize and dispose of alcohol or charge an uncooperative person with obstruction, which carries a maximum penalty of $2,200.

By Tara CAMPBELL