Most of us like a grog but we do not like our City damaged, violence and left filthy by excessive drinking and unruley behaviour.
Changes to The NCC Management Plan can have a major impact on the position whilst at the same time reducing costs to ratepayers.
In brief the budget could:- xxxxx cut funding to the Liquor Accord, xxxxx make venues pay for the clean up cost xxxxx Make all Newcastle LGA an alcohol free zone xxxxx Help fund residents groups in Court actions.
For those that want to read more please consider the following letter sent to the paper by the residents group and others. . . .
"Local residents deserve Council support
It is imperative that we protect and secure the landmark Liquor Board decision from the hotels' legal appeal. We estimate that the challenge will cost the public around half a million dollars if the hearing lasts the anticipated 6 weeks. We are confident however, that with the weight of evidence and current improvements associated with reduced hours, the appeal may backfire and an even tougher legal precedent may be imposed by the Full Bench to ensure harm mininisation, the primary objective of the Liquor Act. For the last 8 years, Newcastle Council has been providing secretariat and other support to the Newcastle Liquor Accord. We estimate from Council's own budget documents this has cost ratepayers around $100,000 in wage costs etc. The Council even prepared and produced media releases for the Accord. During this same period, the Accord failed to achieve its primary purpose of reducing alcohol related violence. It in fact, escalated to be the worst in NSW. Not once did Council speak out about this appalling fact. It still provides support to the Accord and a few Councillors have received donations from the AHA. The cost to ratepayers of cleaning up the filth following the weekly alcohol rampages in the inner city is now approach $1m per annum. Council's administration has however, advised Councillors that it is too difficult to recoup these costs from the late trading venues and takeaway food outlets. We continue to pay instead. Compare the continuing real support our Council has provided the powerful private liquor industry with estimated annual alcohol sales of $50m with what it has provided its own local residents and small business who suffer the consequences. We are yet to receive one second or one cent of support from our own Council. Unlike Randwick Council, they refused to represent the community's interests at the Liquor Board. We were forced to run our own time consuming and costly case. It has been recognised that our independent effective advocacy complementing the Police's outstanding submissions and, our efforts in increasing public awareness and public accountability, has had a profound positive impact on the national battle against the binge drinking epidemic. Our request to gain some modest reciprocal financial support from our Council for the impending appeal in the order of what Council has already directly and indirectly provided the lucrative liquor industry over many years, has already been labelled "foolhardy" by our mayor. I respectfully disagree and believe it entirely appropriate, justifiable and reasonable. Tony Brown Spokesperson, Coalition of inner city resident groups, small businesses and concerned citizens (100+ authorisations for our s104 application)"  

This online discussion forum has concluded. You can still browse the site but the discussion area will no longer accept new comments or votes.