Labour Weekend – 21-24 October Temporary Liquor Ban

Published on 10 October 2022

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With a successful trial running last year, a temporary liquor ban for Labour Weekend 21- 24 October will give Police an extra tool, if needed, to help keep the Waitaki Lakes camps and Otematata a family friendly place we all love.

A Liquor Ban Bylaw was put in place for the first time on Labour Weekend 2021 at the Loch Laird area to mitigate problem behaviour over the long weekend. After a successful first year, the Liquor Ban Bylaw will return for Labour Weekend 2022 with parts of Otematata township also included.

Waitaki District Council Recreation Manager, Lindsay Hyde said, “It was fantastic to see that the plans put in place for the 2021 Labour Weekend period were successful. Prior to 2021 there had been numerous issues that occurred over this weekend in the Otematata area which needed to be addressed. For this upcoming Labour Weekend, we will have similar measures from last year to ensure that residents and members within the Otematata community are kept safe.”

The alcohol ban area extends from the north side of Wildlife campground along both sides of, and including, Loch Laird Road to Loch Laird, including Loch Laird peninsula and the upper terrace of the Loch Laird campground but excludes the lower terrace Loch Laird camping area and some foreshore zones.

Flood lighting will also be in place at the top of the terrace and security guards will be around the campsites. There will also be a temporary alcohol ban over Labour Weekend in some public areas of Otematata.

In past years, Loch Laird top paddock and the Otematata township have seen an environment where the risk of harm is just too great for our kids, with irresponsible behaviour, underage drinking in public, excess alcohol consumption and damage to property.

Senior Sergeant Jason McCoy said, “Historically, Labour Weekend has seen large numbers head to the Otematata lakes area, and unfortunately in the past we have seen this bring increases in disorder and alcohol related offending.”

Feedback from locals after the temporary liquor ban was overwhelmingly positive with significant reporting in the reduction of excessive noise, vandalism, and reckless driving.

Jason McCoy continues, “Last year, with the liquor ban having been put in place, we saw these issues greatly reduce, and received positive feedback from the local community and holidaymakers alike. Putting the liquor ban in place again just ensures that this particular lakes area is a safer spot for families and helps provide a better Labour Weekend experience for everyone.”

ENDS

Labour-Weekend-Alcohol-Ban-poster_2.pdf(PDF, 531KB)