Tag: Bylaws

Input Sought on Alcohol Ban Areas

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Public Input Open

From Auckland Council:

Public input sought on Alcohol Ban areas

Auckland Council is seeking feedback from the public on alcohol ban areas under the Alcohol Control Bylaw 2014.

The bylaw, a requirement under the Local Government Act, requires Auckland to review more than 1,700 existing alcohol bans by 31 October 2015 and to only retain those that meet stricter national criteria.  Any bans not reviewed by this time or without sufficient evidence to retain, will lapse.

Local Boards have been given the delegation to review the existing alcohol bans in their local board area. Additionally, council will review 17 bans on areas of regional significance including Maunga (volcanic cones) and regional facilities such as the Auckland Domain.

“The public is familiar with the concept of alcohol bans. Council has evidence on some bans that can stay in place but we need our community to let us know of any concerns regarding alcohol-related issues in other ban areas if they wish to retain them,” says Cr Calum Penrose, Chair of the Regulatory and Bylaws Committee.

Submissions open on Friday, 19 June 2015.  To keep an alcohol ban, submissions should be accompanied by evidence of crime or disorder attributed to alcohol and specific to an existing ban area.

Examples of alcohol-related crime or disorder include:

  • alcohol-related broken glass and/or litter
  • inappropriate behaviour as a result of drinking alcohol (people congregating in public places, drinking alcohol and being noisy and disruptive to neighbours
  • people drinking alcohol which leads to aggressive, intimidating or offensive behaviours towards others.
Further Information
Local Boards seeking feedback:

  • Albert-Eden, Devonport-Takapuna, Franklin, Henderson-Massey, Howick, Mangere-Otahuhu, Manurewa, Maungakiekie-Tamaki, Orakei, Otara-Papatoetoe, Puketapapa, Papakura, Waiheke, Waitemata, Whau.

Remaining Local Boards:

  • The remaining local boards are able to retain the key alcohol ban areas they want due to evidence gathered.  Great Barrier LB did not have an alcohol ban.

Submission information:

Alcohol bans: submissions open 19 June and close 17 July.

A copy of the Alcohol Control Bylaw, FAQs and submission form can be found:

  • Online at www.shapeauckland.co.nz
  • Call our customer services team on 09 301 0101 and at council libraries/service centres

—ends—

Have Your Say On Legal Highs

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Deadline this Friday

 

From Auckland Council

Time running out to have your say on legal highs issue

 

Aucklanders are being urged to make sure they have their say on the issue of the sale of legal highs as consultation closes this Friday.

Councillor George Wood, chairperson of the Auckland Council Regional Strategy and Policy Committee, says that Auckland needs to be ready for when the products are legal again.

 

“Whether we like it or not, central government will at some point license these substances to be sold again. When that happens, this policy will dictate where that will happen in Auckland.

“It may be that you object to the sale of the products near your home, near your child’s school or anywhere in the city- or it may be that you are perfectly fine with them being sold.

“Whichever side of the debate you sit on, the consultation is happening now, and it will be too late to have your say once the policy is in place.

“This is a decision of huge significance for the people of this city. It will likely impact on all of us in some way. So make sure your voice is heard before time runs out.”

 

The consultation on the Local Approved Product Policy closes at 4pm on Friday 28 November and will help decide where psychoactive substances can be sold in Auckland once licensed by government.

To contribute to the consultation, visit www.shapeauckland.co.nz

 

Further Information

 

The consultation closes at 4pm on Friday 28 November 

The policy proposes that:

  1. Licenses to sell legal psychoactive substances in all of Auckland (apart from the city centre) will not be granted in:
  • areas of high deprivation
  • neighbourhood centres
  • within 500m of a school teaching students year seven and above
  • within 200m of a school teaching students between years one and six inclusive
  • within 500m of a mental health or addiction treatment centre
  • within 500m of an existing psychoactive substances retail licence
  • areas identified as restricted areas. 
  1. Licenses to sell legal psychoactive substances in the city centre will not be granted:
  • in areas of residential deprivation
  • within 100m of an existing psychoactive substances retail licence.

——ends——-

 

You have until this Friday

 

Council Postpones Indoor Fire Decision

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Trying to work more stuff out with Government

 

Well some could say this was coming.

From Auckland Council

Auckland Council postpones indoor fire decision

 

Auckland Council’s Governing Body today made a decision to postpone the passing of the Air Quality Bylaw. The proposed bylaw aims to manage indoor fires to reduce air pollution and meet National Environmental Standards for Air Quality (AQNES).

Councillors agreed that further discussion was needed with the government to meet their legislative requirement and garner support for the large number of Aucklanders this bylaw will affect.

Councillor Calum Penrose, Chair Regulatory and Bylaws Committee says, “We have over 80,000 households in Auckland that currently use open fires and old wood burners. We would like the government to work with us in providing people with clean heat alternatives and support the  more vulnerable in our community whose only form of heating is open fires.”

Cr Penrose recognised that the proposed bylaw needs to be put through to meet the AQNES and also for the overall health of the wider Auckland community – 110 people dying a year from illnesses due to fine particle emissions from indoor fires is another vital reason to rectify this problem.

The proposed Air Quality Bylaw will go back to the Regulatory and Bylaws Committee in February 2015 with further clarification on support for alternative heating options. The overall timeframe of an indoor fire ban in late 2018 is not expected to change.

—Ends—

 

And I bet all the Government will do for “support” on alternative heating options is garner the big stick rather than rebates and subsidies. So might as well get the Bylaw through and be done with it. We have until 2018.

My last piece of commentary on it was here: Fire Places – Heated? Actually No

 

Fire Place Restrictions Kicked Into Touch

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Now moved to February

 

The new Bylaw to place restrictions and bans on pre 2005 wood burners in Auckland homes has been kicked into touch – February 2015 looking at Twitter and MSM reports.

Council is due to release more details later on today.

No matter the delays however, the City is still faced with the inevitable. We either get the Bylaw in ourselves under our own steam or have it done for us by the Ministry for the Environment.

 

More as it happens

 

New Lifejacket Rules Received Well

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So far so good

 

From Auckland Council (seeming this particular issue did cause debate while we still have deaths on the water from those in boats under six metres owing to people not wearing lifejackets)

Aucklanders respond well to lifejacket rules

 

Auckland’s Harbourmaster is hailing the first weekend of the council’s new rules on wearing lifejackets as a success.

Harbourmaster Andrew Hayton says staff from his office visited several boat ramps to inform people about Auckland Council’s new navigation safety bylaw which came into effect for Labour weekend.

“What was pleasing was that most people were aware of the rules and more importantly, were wearing lifejackets.

“The job has just begun so our staff will be out on the water throughout the summer to ensure people are well informed and know the rules and their responsibilities.”

The new bylaw requires everyone on a vessel of six metres or less to wear a lifejacket and that they can only be removed if the skipper determines that it is safe to do so.

The council is also simplifying signs at boat ramps, to help with greater understanding and compliance.

For more information on Auckland Council’s Navigation Safety Bylaw go to aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/harbourmaster

—ends—-

 

Stay safe out on the water. Still too many preventable deaths often from not wearing lifejackets or not being equipped properly. 6 hours in a lifejacket being hot and uncomfortable sure beats being dead a very long time….

 

Council to Bring In New Air Quality Rules

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Fireplaces to be restricted or banned

 

So much more out there than the CBD Also less smog with the new bylaw?
So much more out there than the CBD
Also less smog with the new bylaw?

 

From Auckland Council – and read the bit in bold carefully too

Proposed Air Quality Bylaw tackles pollution

 

Auckland Council’s Regulatory and Bylaws Committee adopted a draft Air Quality Bylaw today to tackle Auckland’s air pollution. The proposed bylaw has been recommended as a way of meeting national air quality standards, as required by the Government.

In winter, 75 percent of Auckland’s air pollution is due to fine particulate emissions (PM10) from open fires and old, non-compliant wood burners. The inhaling of fine particles – which can lodge in the lungs – has raised the level of respiratory illness in the region, a surprise to many who thought that vehicles or industry pollution was to blame. The proposed Air Quality Bylaw will focus on the management of indoor fires to reduce the emissions of these fine particles into our air.

“It is hard to comprehend that the warmth emanating from that wood fire we enjoy on a cold winter night is the cause of serious health issues.  By concentrating on the air pollution culprit in winter – indoor fires – we will not only achieve cleaner air, we will be well on our way to meeting national air quality standards,” says Calum Penrose, Chair, Regulatory and Bylaws Committee.

The committee held a robust discussion about the various implementation timings of the bylaw and Councillor Penrose was pleased with the resulting recommendation of prohibiting both open fires and older wood burners (pre-2005) in October 2018. This will allow homeowners and landlords time to consider alternative heating sources.

All regional councils are required to monitor air pollution levels to ensure particle concentrations are within National Environmental Standards for Air Quality (AQNES) requirements and that we identify any areas  – airsheds – where air quality may exceed standards. The Ministry for the Environment now requires all councils to meet the AQNES standards with no more than one exceedance per year in a region by 2016. 

The bylaw is expected to be tabled at Auckland Council’s Governing Body meeting later this month.  Calls for public submissions will begin on 10 November.

—-Ends—-

 

The Urban Air Shed where the restrictions will be in place by the order of Central Government per Resource Management Act – National Environmental Standards for Air Quality

 

Some Frequently Asked Questions – and answered

 

 

Feedback Sought on ‘Use of Public Spaces/Places’

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Council seeking feedback on Draft Bylaw

 

From Auckland Council

Draft bylaws aimed at balancing use of public places

 

Auckland Council and Auckland Transport are seeking feedback on draft bylaws aimed at managing trading activities and events in public places.

The new bylaws will replace the 10 different sets of rules inherited from Auckland’s previous councils that related to trading and events in public places, including in parks, beaches and roads.

Activities covered by these bylaws are: markets and stalls, mobile shops, outdoor dining, fundraising (including the soliciting or collection of subscriptions), offering of commercial services, distribution of promotional material or goods, outdoor display of goods, street performers and pavement artists, filming and events.

“These new bylaws will continue to support the vibrancy and enjoyment  that comes with street trading and events in public places, while ensuring that other users of public places are protected,” says chair of the council’s Regulatory and Bylaws Committee, Cr Calum Penrose.

“That includes ensuring footpaths are kept uncluttered so there is plenty of space for pedestrians and those with limited mobility to safely navigate.”

Cr Penrose acknowledges that changing to region-wide bylaws will mean the level of change for traders will vary in different parts of Auckland but that it is important there is fairness and consistency.

In general the draft bylaws propose that:

  • some forms of trading will require approval from the council  before it can occur, including outdoor dining areas, run markets and stalls, operate a mobile shop and fundraise in a public place
  • permission will continue to be required to hold an event or film in public places
  • activities with low impact will not require permission but traders will have to meet conditions to ensure the area is not overcrowded and cluttered
  • identify areas where particular activities cannot occur in order to ensure public safety, prevent nuisance, minimise obstructions or the damage or misuse of public places
  • any trading activity that takes place in a park or reserve obtains all necessary approvals.

 

Submissions on the proposed bylaw close on Thursday 4 September 2014.

For more information, including both proposed bylaws and to make a submission go to shapeauckland.co.nz .

Documents also available at council libraries and customer service centres.

——ends—-

 

Summary Document provided by Auckland Council