Newcastle Liquor Accord

1
Newcastle Liquor Accord
Ms Jenny Graham and Ms Ruth Edwards
2
Accord structure

• Two Local area commands
• One LAC is the entertainment precinct the other
  covers suburban hotels.
• Have divided the Accord into seven sub-accords.
• The direction for Newcastle Accord comes from the
  Steering Committee
• Each sub-accord is invited to send a
  representative to participate on the Steering
  Committee

3
Steering committee

• Chairperson Premiers Dept
• Representatives
• Sub-Accords
• Newcastle and Waratah Police LAC
• Office of Liquor Gaming and Racing
• Hunter Area Health
• Australian Hoteliers Association
• Registered Clubs Association
• Restaurant and Caterers Association
• Newcastle City Council
• Business Groups

4
Accord membership

• Bottle shops 7 from 23
• Clubs 38 from 48
• Function 6 from 35
• Hotels 48 from 70
• Restaurants 19 from 77
• Caterer 1 from 5

5
Funding

• Newcastle City Council contributes 20,000 per
  year
• (This does not take into account in-kind
  support - postage, office use, phones, computers
  etc)
• Membership fees contribute approx 12,000

6
Co-ordinator roles

• Work 2.5 days on Liquor related matters-
• Co-ordinate the Accord
• Organise meetings
• Send correspondence, information updates etc to
  Accord members
• Manage and co-ordinate programs (eg Street
  Security invoice members, collate reporting,)
• Alcohol Free Zones
• Monitor and distribute alcohol related issues
  that are sent to NCC
• Work closely with Community Safety
• Attend Community meetings (PACT etc) on behalf of
  the Accord

7
Membership Fees
8
Projects

• Successfully worked on several projects from a
  regional perspective.
• Maitland, Cessnock and Newcastle Accords
  implemented the Enough is Enough television and
  radio adverts.
• Working together was very beneficial
• Have a fundraiser programmed for August and will
  invite members of the associated Accords and
  industry associations

9
Current project

• Street Security
• 13 premises from the Inner City Accord contribute
  to the provision of up to 8 security personnel
  and a patrol vehicle on Friday and Saturday
  nights
• Further contributions are from business owners
  via the Precincts

10
Street security cont

• Nightly reports are completed by security
  personnel and forwarded to each premises and
  Newcastle Police.
• The Police can then identify hot spots and
  target these locations as a appropriate
• The security service pick up bottles and bins,
  move people along if causing an issue in the
  streets, accompany patrons to vehicles if
  required, prevent public urination, assist in
  issues of damage to property (eg broken windows)
  and provide a calming presence on the streets

11
Evaluation of street security

• No formal evaluation to date
• Police and crime statistics show a reduction in
  assaults on licensed premises.
• Reported crime is up, possibly attributed to more
  Police being able to attend incidents
• Increased opportunity for victims to report
  issues to street security

12
NightLink and NightCare

• Two crime prevention projects run in association
  with the Liquor Accord
• Aimed at reducing late-night, alcohol-related
  anti-social behaviour.
• NightLink late night transport option
• NightCare free BBQs run by volunteers
• Both work in with the Street Security Project

13
NightLink

• Commenced operation in December 2004
• Comprises free shuttle bus (from venue to venue)
• Managed Rank (transport information, security,
  management presence)
• Roam buses - 5 to your door transport option
  to 22 inner city suburbs.
• Funded by NCC, RTA and AERF

14
NightCare

• Operating since 2002
• Funded by AERF since 2004
• Provides free sausage sandwiches served nearly
  50,000 people last financial year
• Provides informal counselling
• Helps homeless, people in distress, young people