Wanganui Council Community and Environment Committee Chair Cr Philippa Baker-Hogan today said the Wanganui District Council will consider objecting to any applications for new off-licences in the district.

"The Otara-Papatoetoe Local Board of Auckland Council has recently voted to object to any new applications for off-licences in its area because of liquor-related problems," Cr Baker-Hogan said.

"Because of the concerns that have been raised about the number of off-licences in the Wanganui District, I am asking the Council to discuss whether we should object to all applications for new off-licences and whether the Council should be advised of any applications for renewals of off-licences. With 24 off-licence outlets for a population of 43,000 people in the Wanganui District, against 42 off-licence outlets for a population of 80,000 in Otara-Papatoetoe, it is difficult to argue our issue is of any less concern.

"The Alcohol Reform Bill which is going through Parliament aims to give communities the ability to set local liquor policy controls. This will allow communities to make decisions based on any particular concerns within their own areas. The Safer Whanganui Alcohol Strategy Group is already working on a draft Local Alcohol Policy for the Council and community to consider once the Bill is passed.

"I believe there is a need for communities to have a greater say in alcohol-related issues that affect their area and these changes in legislation are paving the way for that to happen, although not fast enough or strongly enough as far as affected communities like ours are concerned."

The Community and Environment Committee will discuss the policy relating to off-licences at its meeting on October 4.