City authorities have slammed a liquor retailer in an attempt to scupper another outlet planned for North Dunedin.
Police, Public Health South, the University of Otago and a Dunedin City Council licensing inspector are all fighting plans by McCarthy Enterprises to open a new Super Liquor outlet in Great King St at the site of the former McDuffs Brewery.
Authorities claim the applicant is not suitable to operate in the area and the shop will have a negative effect on public order in the area.
McCarthy Enterprises Ltd owners William and Patricia McCarthy also operate Mosgiel Super Liquor and Super Liquor Andersons Bay, while companies owned by the pair operate Super Liquor Kaikorai and Quicker Liquor, in George St.
The Andersons Bay, Kaikorai and George St premises are all subject to licensing hearings at present where police and Public Health South oppose renewal of the outlets’ licences.
Dunedin alcohol harm prevention officer Sergeant Ian Paulin told the district licensing committee, in his opposition to the new outlet, police were called to 256 incidents related to alcohol within a 500m radius of the proposed shop in the year from May 31, 2016, to June 1, 2017.
Of those, 194 were related to disorder, 11 were serious assaults and another 11 were intimidation.
"For a residential area, this is a large amount of alcohol-related offending," Sgt Paulin said.
"These are calls made by the public who have witnessed an event ... This does not include incidents that police patrols have come across.
"Police and other support agencies also deal with ... sexual offending, a vast majority of which is unreported.
"For the last 12 months, within the 500m radius area, police have investigated three indecent assaults, a rape and two indecent acts. Police will give evidence that the common theme from the victims and offenders of these offences is abuse of alcohol, predominantly from off-licence consumption.
"One only has to sit outside of the proposed location ... on a Saturday night and witness the alcohol-fuelled mayhem to come to the conclusion this area is not pleasant and agreeable.
"Students walking past drinking from boxes of RTDs, bottles of wine or boxes of beer, large parties at student flats within a stone’s throw of this premises, vomit and urine in and around the streets, are all commonplace."
The proposed location was within 200m of three other off-licence premises.
There are also three fast-food outlets in the same block.
University of Otago vice-chancellor Prof Harlene Hayne said the applicant’s "poor track record" combined with the proximity to students and other young people meant alcohol harm in the area would increase if the store went ahead.
"The applicant has a history of breaches of the [Sale and Supply of Alcohol] Act, including sale to minors," she said.
"The neighbourhood around the proposed location already has a high density of alcohol outlets, a large population of young people and a high rate of alcohol-related harm. This history suggests the applicant is not suitable to operate in such an environment."
Public Health South medical officer of health Dr Keith Reid opposed the licence due to the "vulnerability of the local community, the existing ready availability of alcohol ... and the impact on good order".
The proposal will be considered at a hearing of the district licensing committee on August 21.
• A hearing for Super Liquor Andersons Bay, Super Liquor Kaikorai and Quicker Liquor was to be held on August 7. It was postponed until August 23.
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Comments
Foot traffic. You've got to have the foot traffic. McDuffs (Duffs, until 'The Simpsons' complained) was a boutique walk in.
Super(annuation) Liquor could be a bit big for the neighbourhood, which is, er, 'well served' as it is.