A subcommittee considering submissions made last week on whether to extend the liquor ban to North Dunedin was yesterday due to make a recommendation to council, but decided instead to adjourn for further consideration.
Crs Colin Weatherall, Andrew Noone and Kate Wilson said two things were clear in the submissions: students had not bought into the liquor-ban proposal, which would make it more or less useless; and there was a willingness to deal with alcohol-related harm to the city and its citizens, which the subcommittee believed needed to be translated into action.
It was decided Cr Wilson would hold a series of meetings with invited groups, largely those that had submitted on the liquor ban, to try to get buy-in from students for the liquor-ban extension.
"Clearly we need to do something and a liquor ban seems to be an additional tool that will help, in the meantime . . . we do need to work with the students' associations and others, as students are clearly of the view this is not the right solution. In my view it is, but we need to convince them it is" Cr Noone said.
Other ways to reduce the damage caused by alcohol in Dunedin will also be discussed at the meetings.
Subcommittee chairman Cr Colin Weatherall said the subcommittee was indicating the ban had merit, but wanted to take the time to work on calling in the commitment to broader action revealed in the submission process.
"It will give them a chance to turn that good faith into action."
Any ban would not be put in place until the start of the university year, so there was time to do the work, which could tie in with whatever measures came from the Alcohol Reform Bill (to be finalised mid-year) and a review of Dunedin's local alcohol policy.
The council has considered extending the CBD liquor ban to cover the student area several times since the idea was first raised by police in 2006.
However, the subcommittee's decision was anything but a cop-out, Cr Weatherall said.
"We put ourselves at some risk, but I think it's a risk we want to be seen to be taking, because we want to get some buy-in."
The first meeting will be held in late June and the subcommittee will reconvene before the end of the year to make a decision.
Public Health South physician Marion Poore said she could understand the councillors' reluctance to move on the ban because the problem was so complex.
"[A ban] sends a message, but it's a very blunt instrument. What is needed is a multi-agency alcohol harm reduction strategy, with co-ordinated actions focused on unsafe drinking practices."
Otago University vice-chancellor Prof Harlene Hayne said it was vital to take the time to carefully make the best decisions, and the university would work with the council, Otago University Students' Association and all parties who had a stake in "the important decisions we face over the next few months".
The work of the university's alcohol implementation group would link with other groups working to solve the same issues, she said.
The OUSA and Otago Polytechnic Students' Association were pleased the ban had not been put in place without student buy-in and were happy to have input into solutions for the broader issues.
Dunedin police area commander Insp Greg Sparrow said police were pleased the council was still considering the ban.
Separately, council staff were also instructed to investigate issues raised by a submitter in relation to disorder and drinking in the View St area, just outside the CBD liquor ban area.
