About 30 Raglanders came along last night to the Waikato District Council’s Liquor and Gambling Consultation meeting, held in the Town Hall Supper Room at 5.30pm on Monday 18th. Four staff from the Waikato Council were at the meeting as well as representatives from the NZ Police and Waikato District Heath Board. Although Ward Councillor Clint Baddeley was at the meeting, I didn’t spot any sign of Raglan Community Board members (See note below- RCB member Bob MacLeod was there for part of the meeting). Local groups including Raglan Community House, Raglan Chamber of Commerce and the Raglan Club were represented.
The meeting started with a Power Point presentation by the Council’s Regulatory Manager, Roger McCulloch assisted by licensing expert Alan Parkes. The presentation covered the law changes that were the background to the new local policies being developed. When the consultation survey that was carried out last was mentioned, it became clear that many people had missed adverts in the Raglan Chronicle and the Council’s Link newsletter.
At the end of the meeting, those present were given the opportunity to have a say by putting a sticky coloured circle in box charts about topics such as the number of licensed outlets and gaming machines and their separation distance from ‘sensitive’ premises. A number of people raised questions during the presentation and after it. A common view seemed to be that the number of gaming machines should be reduced. On the number of liquor outlets many though the number was about right, but some thought there were too many.
The meeting concluded with a cup of tea and a biscuit.
The consultation meetings will continue for the next two weeks at other locations in the Waikato District. Council staff hope to have policies ready for consultation by November.
I was at the meeting for part of the presentation then had to Chair the Lions Board meeting.