In
April, the City of Sydney exhibited proposed
AFZs on strategic streets throughout Sydney.
In
Redfern, several streets were earmarked, including Redfern, Regent and George
Streets. These areas are just part of a larger plan to introduce zones in parts
of the CBD, Newtown
and Leichhardt.
Established
zones already exist in Surry Hills and Kings Cross.
While
Ms Keneally strongly supports new AFZs, she told the SSH she would like to see
more lateral thinking on dealing with street drinking. Wet Centres, Keneally
says, could “support people who are street drinkers hopefully out of their
addiction and into some sort of assistance.”
The
idea was first put forward in a motion at the 2003 alcohol summit, co-sponsored
by Keneally and Clover Moore. The summit didn’t endorse it. Three years on,
Keneally says Lord Mayor Moore “could be a strong advocate for Wet Centres;
indeed, I cannot see why the Council could not implement a Wet Centre in its
own municipal area.”
Keneally
used Redfern Park as an example of council-owned land
that could be considered for a future trial. However, according to Cr Moore,
“Drug services are a NSW Government responsibility” and “The Government took no
action on the Summit’s
recommendation to trial Wet Centres”.
Moore
remains committed to the idea and said, “As Lord Mayor, I would examine
seriously any specific proposals from the Redfern-Waterloo Authority or State
Government for a Wet Centre.”
The
proposed new AFZs have come about from police requests. Redfern-Waterloo Local
Area Commander Catherine Burn said, “If [people] weren’t drinking alcohol in
those areas, there would be less crime and less confrontation.”
However,
critics say that AFZs move the problem of street drinking to other areas. In a
submission to the Council, the Redfern Legal Centre said, “The overt
prohibition approach is likely only to have the effect of causing drinkers to
hide in less conspicuous spaces such as stairwells, lift wells, car parks or
alleys.”
Burn
responds, “it might move people from an area, but it will move them to an area
where there is less likelihood of confrontation with members of the community”.
Aboriginal
Housing Company CEO Mick Mundine said in a submission that streets drinkers
will likely move “onto land owned by the AHC and the City of Sydney in the vicinity of The Block.”
According
to ministerial guidelines, AFZs are best used as part of a larger program
targeting irresponsible drinking. “Used in isolation they may only move the
problem from one place to another,” the guidelines state.
If
Wet Centres were introduced, they may provide a safe place for street drinkers
to go instead.