We Stand Divided

Newcastle Herald

Thursday February 21, 2008

By BEN SMEE

NEWCASTLE publicans, youths and residents' groups agree that late-night violence and antisocial behaviour in the city is a major problem, but finding a solution has them at loggerheads.

A group of inner-city hotels weighed into the debate yesterday, and about 250 people attended a public meeting last night to discuss drastic measures such as the midnight closure of licensed venues.

Newcastle Alive, described by spokesman Eamonn McCabe as a solutions group involving eight inner-city licensed premises, detailed its own plan for the city.

Mr McCabe, the licensee at the Crown and Anchor Hotel, said the eight premises involved had already ordered a high-tech system that would scan identification cards and store information on patrons to help monitor troublemakers.

They also plan to establish a radio network between the venues, and have called for the introduction of closed-circuit television and alcohol-free zones.

"These issues are everyone's problem and any solutions have to involve a real and honest identification of the issues facing the city," Mr McCabe said.

"The changes that Newcastle will see in the next 12 to 24 months can make this town the jewel in the east coast."

But the group faces opposition from a coalition of "inner-city resident groups, small businesses and concerned citizens", which held a public meeting last night to discuss plans to "make Newcastle safe".

Coalition spokesman Tony Brown presented a plan that included a blanket midnight closing time for licensed venues and mandatory breath-testing as a condition of entry to licensed venues.

The crowd was clearly divided along age lines. A large number of younger people spoke against the coalition's plan, while the majority of older inner-city residents appeared to support the proposal, despite pleas from one resident to end the "us against them" mentality.

Gabrielle Robinson, one of the young people who spoke, raised concerns about job losses to workers in the hospitality industry if venues were forced to close their doors early.

"A lot of people rely on those late hours to put them through uni, rather than go on the dole," she said.

The Liquor Administration Board will hold hearings on the issue on March 11.

THE HOTELIERS' PLAN

From Newcastle Alive, backed by eight inner-city hotels: Crown and Anchor

Hotel, Fannys nightclub, King Street Hotel, Duck's Nuts Hotel, The Brewery,

Customs House, Grand Hotel, Civic Hotel.

* High-tech "ID Eye" system to

monitor patrons. The system scans

drivers licences on entry and stores

a digital picture of each patron. The

eight Newcastle Alive hotels have

already ordered the system, will

share information gathered and will

enforce a "banned from one, banned

from all" policy.

* Radio network between hotels to help

monitor troublemakers.

* Closed-circuit television cameras in

the inner-city, monitored by police

and funded by Newcastle City Council

through a Federal Government grant.

* Alcohol-free zones in the inner-city,

requiring laws which better allow

police to punish offenders.

* Tougher enforcement of littering laws

at peak times by council rangers.

* Attention given to the illicit drugs

market, in particular the drug ice.

* More medium- to long-haul transport

at peak times.

* More taxis, achieved by issuing peaktime

only licences.

* Secure and manned bus hubs in the

inner-city.

* Hotels to continue current policies

including bans on shots, and offpremises

sales after 9pm.

THE RESIDENTS' PLAN

From Tony Brown's coalition of inner-city residents

groups, small businesses and concerned citizens.

* Midnight closure of all

licensed venues in the

inner-city.

* Licensed venues to be

held accountable and

have trading hours

further reduced if

anti-social behaviour

and the "grog culture"

continues.

* Embargo on the

approval of any new

liquor licences, or the

transfer of licences, in

the inner-city for venues

trading later than 11pm.

* Patrons forced to take

a breath test to enter

inner-city hotels in

peak times. Prescribed

content of alcohol

(PCA) limits of 0.05 for

entry to be imposed.

* Breath testing used to

determine if patrons are

intoxicated, with a PCA

limit of 0.08.

* Involving residents

in decision-making

processes.

* Integrated and effective

alcohol-free zones

within 1.5 kilometres of

licensed venues.

© 2008 Newcastle Herald

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