Newcastle Council has voted to support a trial of relaxed liquor laws across in the city, kicking off in twenty-seven small bars and restaurants on October 1st.
The trial will allow restaurants to stay open and serve drinks until midnight and small bars until 2am.
The trial was set to run from October to April, but at last nights Council meeting, Newcastle Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes flagged extending the trial for an extra 6 months.
Venues taking part in the Newcastle After Dark strategy include Coal and Cedar, Basement on Market and Big Poppy's as well as iconic restaurants Scratchley's, the Edwards, Three Bears Kitchen and Signal Box.
Proprietor of Scratchley's restuarant and Battlesticks Bar, Neil Slater says the trial could lead to the revitalisation of the City's life after dark and believes Newcastle is ready for the trial despite its violent past.
"Under the new trial we'll be able to sell a nip of a fine scotch or cognac, or a cocktail up until 2am. The trial will allow for a more sophisticated Newcastle that has matured and is ready to take our place as one of the great cities of Australia."
"The whole idea is to gauge whether the city has changed. We have to have a look at whether what happened 12 years ago is indeed how we are now. I'd like to suggest that things have changed considerably."
Newcastle Council will also elect an independent inner-city resident to sit on the Committee for Night Time Jobs and Investment, however lockout laws advocate Tony Brown says the community has been left out of the process.
He says residents had no say in the extension of the trial from 6 to 12 months and fears the trial will flow onto larger inner-city pubs and clubs.
"We're concerned the outcome of the trial will be used as a precedent for pubs and clubs and the AHA (Australian Hotel Association) to demand an increase in their conditions."
"What Council doesn't realise is weakening controls for smaller bar and restaurants, will ultimately flow on to the higher risk, late trading, violent pubs and clubs."
"What the community is seeking is a iron clad guarantee that they will not rely on the outcomes of this trial to allow the bigger pubs and clubs to break down life saving Newcastle conditions."
Mr Brown also says small venues already have the ability to vary their licensing conditions and the trial is bypassing correct process.
Newcastle Council maintains they have been in collaboration with Liquor and Gaming NSW, the Independent Liquor and Gaming Authority, Newcastle Tourism Industry Group and the NSW Police to facilitate the relaxation.
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| Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes (left) with Coal and Cedar's Ryan Hawthorne (middle) and Scratchley's Neil Slater (right) |
