Reducing Alcohol Related Harm Policy

Background

Latrobe City Council has a long commitment to improving public safety including through reducing the harm associated with excessive alcohol consumption. Council recognises the positive social and economic impacts that licenced venues provide for the community. Alcohol contributes to a vibrant and dynamic economy through the provision of diverse entertainment and dining options. It can contribute to the viability of businesses as well as sport and community groups. A vibrant late night economy can activate central business districts outside of standard business hours and provide employment.

Council is seeking to address the negative social, amenity and economic impacts that can arise from excessive alcohol consumption and the tensions that may arise between licenced premises and other land uses.

Latrobe City Council has over 200 licenced premises providing a diverse range of dining and entertainment opportunities. The majority of licenced venues are situated within the CBDs of Traralgon, Moe and Morwell. Traralgon also features a cluster of late night venues within its entertainment precinct.

A number of Latrobe City Council properties are also licenced premises. Council holds liquor licences for some venues while a number of sporting clubs utilising Council recreation reserves also hold liquor licences.

Research indicates that there are specific risks associated with certain licenced venue types. Large patron numbers, venue layout and late night trading along with a range of other factors can contribute to excessive alcohol consumption and increased levels of violence and anti-social behaviour. Clusters of packaged liquor outlets can contribute to higher rates of excessive alcohol consumption and higher rates of family violence.

Local Government’s role in the management of licenced venues is limited to the issuing of planning permits, commenting on liquor licence applications referred to Council by the Victorian Commission for Gambling and Liquor Regulation (VCGLR) and involvement in Liquor Accords. Latrobe City Council’s role in community safety includes addressing alcohol-related public safety issues.

Objectives

The objective of this policy is to reduce alcohol related harm within the community and promote the positive social and economic benefits of responsible alcohol consumption.

Scope

The policy applies to all areas of Latrobe City Council.

Principles of Management

Council will utilise its authority and influence to attempt to limit the harmful effects of excessive alcohol consumption within the community. Council will take a proactive and preventative approach to reducing alcohol related harm within Latrobe City.

Council encourages an appropriate mix of licensed premises relative to other commercial, retail and residential uses while maintaining an appropriate level of amenity.

Council will consider the cumulative impact of clusters of licenced premises when assessing applications for licenced venues.
Council will utilise existing mechanisms available within the planning scheme to limit harm from excessive alcohol consumption within the community. Council will also explore new mechanisms to assist in limiting harm such as requiring venue management plans for high-risk venues.
Council will consider the opportunity to reduce harm from excessive alcohol consumption when providing commentary on liquor licence applications and licenced premise planning permits.
Council will discourage licenced premises from operating in proximity to sensitive land uses, such as schools.
Council will discourage packaged liquor outlets from operating within and across areas of high social and economic disadvantage. For the purpose of this policy that is guided by areas with a SEIFA IRSD score below 900. (see maps in Appendix 1)
Council will request applicants for licenced premises join and be part of the Latrobe City Liquor Accord.

Council will allow liquor licences at Council venues provided the provision of alcohol is not the primary use of the venue and that venue users promote the responsible service of alcohol.

Groups and clubs with seasonal allocations or leasing Council venues will only be permitted to hold the following liquor licence types: BYO, limited, temporary, restricted club or renewable limited club licence.
Sporting clubs utilising Council venues are not permitted to serve alcohol during junior only events or activities.
All sporting clubs with liquor licences utilising Council venues are required to be involved in the Good Sports program delivered by GippSport or a future similar program.
All groups and clubs utilising Council venues must join and be part of the Latrobe City Liquor Accord.

Council will encourage public events held within Latrobe City and at Council facilities to promote the responsible consumption of alcohol.

All events where minors are likely to be present will be required to include ‘dry’ areas.
Council will not approve event permits where the primary purpose of the event is the excessive consumption of alcohol.

Council will continue to partner with Victoria Police and licenced venues in the Latrobe City Liquor Accord to address community safety issues relating to licenced premises.

Council will continue to designate and promote Municipal Places within the Central Business Districts of Churchill, Moe, Morwell and Traralgon as alcohol-free areas as outlined in Local Law No 2.

Accountability and Responsibility

Accountability and responsibility for this policy is outlined below.

Council

Responsibility to ensure this Policy is consistent with Latrobe City Council Strategic Direction and other Latrobe City Council Policy
Responsibility for the decision to approve this Policy by Council Resolution

Chief Executive Officer

Overall responsibility for compliance with this policy
Overall responsibility for enforcing accountability
Overall responsibility for providing resources
Overall responsibility for performance monitoring

General Manager

Responsibility for compliance with this policy
Responsibility for enforcing accountability
Responsibility for providing resources
Responsibility for performance monitoring

Manager

Develop frameworks and procedures in compliance with this policy
Enforce responsibilities to achieve compliance with frameworks and procedures
Provide appropriate resources for the execution of the frameworks and procedures

Employees, Contractors and Volunteers

Participate where required in the development of frameworks and procedures in compliance with this policy.
Comply with frameworks and procedures developed to achieve compliance with this policy.

Evaluation and Review

This policy will be reviewed on request of Council, in the event of significant change in the Executive team, significant changes to legislation applicable to the subject matter of the policy or, in any other case, during each Council term (generally four years).

Definitions

Municipal Place:

(a) any road, footpath or shopping precinct; and

(b) a public place which is owned or occupied by or vested in the Council to which the public has access (whether an admittance fee is required or not).

SEIFA IRSD Score:

The Socio-Economic Indexes for Australia (SEIFA) rank areas according to their relative socio-economic advantage or disadvantage.

The Index of Relative Socio-Economic Disadvantage (IRSD) focuses on measures of disadvantage, with a low score representing a higher level of disadvantage. A score of 900 places an area in the 10% most disadvantaged areas in Australia.

Reference Resources

Liquor Control Reform Act 1998

Liquor Control Reform Regulations 2009

Licenced premises: Assessing cumulative impact. Practice note 61.

Local government liquor licence objection kit.