Police withdraw opposition to Omakau Trots licence

The crowd enjoys the sunshine at a previous Omakau trots. Photo by ODT.
The crowd enjoys the sunshine at a previous Omakau trots. Photo by ODT.

The Omakau Trots could be in the clear this year as police withdraw their opposition to the event's liquor licence.

Police initially opposed an application by the Great Open Ladies Fund for a special licence to run two bars at next year's Omakau trots on January 2.

Among their concerns were the event having a bring-your-own alcohol policy well as the bars.

At a hearing in June they told the Central Otago Trotting Club they could prosecute the club and some of last year's attendees for allowing alcohol to be brought into the Omakau racecourse at this year's meeting.

It was adjourned part-way through so the club could consider varying the special licence area, continuing the hearing, or withdrawing its application.

It decided to stick with its original application unamended and the hearing was to continue on Friday.

Today the Central Otago District Council announced police withdrew their opposition and therefore the public hearing of the application was cancelled.

The licence has not yet been approved, but it struck no other opposition, so the District Licensing Committee will make its decision privately .

Council licensing inspector Ray Applegarth, who reports to the committee on behalf of council staff, said the decision would be made within the week through the "normal channels''.

When the application was originally filed he said in a report the people attending the event were unlikely to behave in such a manner as to have an adverse effect on the area's amenities.

Last week trotting club president Graham Sinnamon told the Otago Daily Times it was ``consulting with all the relevant people that need to be consulted about this, including the police''.

``Our focus is on trying to get an agreement that all parties are comfortable with,'' he said.

The event held in January this year was granted a special licence from the licensing committee despite police opposition.

It has run for 52 years.

Mr Sinnamon and police have been approached for comment.

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