Alcohol Free Zones & Draft Alcohol in Public Spaces

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DRAFT ALCOHOL FREE ZONE PROPOSAL

FOR WALGETT, LIGHTNING RIDGE AND COLLARENEBRI

AND DRAFT ALCOHOL IN PUBLIC SPACES POLICY

The Draft Alcohol Free Zone Proposal for the Walgett Shire Council was adopted for public exhibition at the 22 July 2025 Ordinary Council Meeting. Council now invites the community to view and comment on the draft documents which also includes a draft Alcohol in Public Spaces Policy.

The draft documents will be on public exhibition for a period of 30 days from Monday 11 August 2025 until Wednesday 10 September 2025 until 4.00 pm.

The document can be viewed here(PDF, 1MB)

Hard copies are also available for public viewing at:

  • Walgett – Council Office at 77 Fox Street
  • Lightning Ridge – Council Office at 35 Pandora Street
  • Collarenebri – Council Agency at 37-39 Wilson Street
  • Carinda – Post Office at 18 Colin Street
  • Rowena – Pub at 15 Rowena St

Council encourages all individuals and groups within the community to review the draft documents and make written submissions on any issues they wish to be Council to consider and address. 

All submissions are required to be received by Council, by Wednesday 10 September 2025 by 4.00 pm and should be addressed to the General Manager.  Following consideration of public submissions, the draft documents will be formally considered and adopted by Council at a future meeting.

Enquiries and submissions are to be made in writing to admin@walgett.nsw.gov.au or addressed to the General Manager, PO BOX 31, WALGETT, NSW 2832.

Outline

Alcohol free zones in the towns of Walgett, Lightning Ridge and Collarenebri expired on 14 July 2019.  On 22 July 2025 Walgett Shire Council passed a resolution to consult with the community about its proposal to re-establish the zones.

The provisions of Chapter 16, Part 4 of the Local Government Act 1993 allow Walgett Shire Council to establish the zones.  This document provides details of the proposed zones.

Reasons for the alcohol free zones

The Council has no recent records or communications from the public on file regarding the re-establishment of Alcohol Free Zones in Walgett, Lightning Ridge, and Collarenebri prior to their expiration. Additionally, no government authorities have written to Walgett Shire Council requesting the reinstatement of these zones. The most recent correspondence on this matter was a letter dated February 17, 2015, from the NSW Police Superintendent Local Area Command, requesting the establishment of the Alcohol Free Zone.

Council sees the establishment and enforcement of alcohol free zones as helping to:

  • Inform the community of Council’s expectations for acceptable standards of behaviour.
  • Reduce street drinking, alcohol related crime and littering in public places.
Location of the alcohol free zones

The maps provided below illustrate the scope of the proposed zones, which align with the boundaries of the existing zones.

Where does an alcohol free zone apply?

Alcohol free zones can only be created over public roads or a public place that is a car park (ie. a car park on public land or Crown Land).

How long will the zone apply?

It is proposed that the alcohol free zone will be established for four years.

Community input

Ministerial Guidelines require that Council “give proper consideration to any representations, submissions or objections received and as a result may amend or withdraw a proposal to establish an alcohol-free zone”.  Walgett Shire Council encourages written submissions from the public regarding the proposed zones.  Submissions should be addressed to the General Manager of Walgett Shire Council.

More information?

Contact Walgett Shire Council on (02) 68286100, email admin@walgett.nsw.gov.au or visit our website www.walgett.nsw.gov.au

Andrew Brown
General Manager
Walgett Shire Council

 

 

 

 

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