Trafalgar Centre gets alcohol licence
The Trafalgar Centre operators have been granted a one-year licence to sell alcohol at the venue despite opposition from health, police and council officials.
But Nelson mayor Nick Smith, who supported the bid, said the decision would help attract more national events to the underused council-owned venue, and would help revitalise the city.
He said there were 27 venues similar to the Trafalgar Centre around New Zealand and all had on-licences. There was no justification for Nelson’s main indoor venue being disadvantaged.
The centre had previously applied for special liquor licences for events, but Smith said that was a “huge bureaucratic waste” and created uncertainty for promoters.
In a decision released this month the Nelson District Licensing Committee granted the on-licence to the Trafalgar Centre operators, Nelson Community Venues Ltd (NCVL).
“We have concluded that to refuse a licence application in the face of the evidence we have heard…would not benefit the community as a whole,” the committee found.
In evidence to a committee hearing, police alcohol harm reduction officer Sergeant Steve Savage said he was not opposed to an on-licence for the centre, but said it should be restricted to smaller events. Events with more than 200-300 people should be covered by special licences, he suggested.
He indicated there had been significant drug use in the standing crowd area at concerts in the centre, and believed it was unsuitable for those aged under-18.
A Nelson City Council licensing inspector and a Health New Zealand alcohol licensing officer also supported the special licence process for larger events at the centre so risks could be discussed. All three had concerns about the applicant’s risk assessment tool for the sale of alcohol at events.
In response NCVL made changes to the tool, but the agencies said it remained unfit for purpose.
The committee found the applicant had appropriate systems, staff and training to comply with the sale of alcohol laws.
It noted the agencies’ concerns that an on-licence would not allow consideration of individual events. It added a condition that the operators had to consult the agencies for high-risk events at the centre.
In such events a limit of two drinks per serving per person would apply, the committee ruled.
In an online post, Smith said he had spoken to promoters who would not bring events to Nelson when there was no certainty as to whether an alcohol licence would be granted. “These promoters are rapt with the decision and are already planning to bring new events here,” he said.
“The Trafalgar Centre is an underused $20 million ratepayer-owned facility that costs $2 million per year in interest on debt from its upgrade, insurance, depreciation, maintenance and operating costs. The greater the use, the more income the council gets, lessening the costs that fall on the ratepayer.”
The council’s exclusive food and beverage policy with the centre operators caused problems last year with the Nelson Giants saying they would be unable to play next season without the revenue they generated from hospitality at their home games. A compromise was reached allowing the Giants to retain its food and beverage income at the centre until July 2027.
By Warren Gamble, Nelson Mail
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