Alcohol Free Zone on trial for Waterloo Green

City of Sydney will trial an Alcohol Free Zone (AFZ) for Waterloo Green to combat the area’s long-term battle with public drinking.

Council agreed to trial the AFZ earlier this week despite councillors being divided over the ethics and effectiveness of the strategy.

Councillor Irene Doutney, who abstained from voting due to a conflict of interest, said: “We have to find better solutions than just moving people on.”

Lord Mayor Clover Moore MP supported the trial and said it was important to “let the people know in this area they have the right to peace and quiet.

“Public housing residents shouldn’t be subjected to ongoing anti-social behaviour outside their windows,” she said.

Ms Moore was confident Redfern Police, who lodged the application for the AFZ, would carry out the trial appropriately and effectively.

A spokesperson from Redfern LAC said the aim was to “protect our community, both drinkers and non-drinkers by influencing persons to drink in licensed premises…or in their own homes.”

The AFZ will target common areas, known by some as ‘wet spaces’, where individuals gather to drink.

But member of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Advisory Panel, Shireen Malamoo, is concerned tageting these spaces shows a lack of tolerance for Aboriginal people.

“These families have barbeques in the parks and there should be the recognition and tolerance of the need of Aboriginal people to be around our own mob,” Ms Malamoo wrote in a letter to Council.

“They cannot afford to drink frequently but when they do, they don’t hurt anyone.”

Councillor Meredith Burgmann echoed similar concerns.

“We need somewhere where they can drink, not make them decide between the pub and home,” she said. “Going home is not a good solution…that’s where the family and children are.”

Ms Malamoo stressed Aboriginal people were “not welcome and [were] no good in pubs”.

But Licensing Sergeant Robert French, who addressed Council last week, said there would be “an element of discretion” when dealing with public drinkers.

He said the AFZ was not targeting those individuals but a small group of drinkers who cause problems in the area.

“It isn’t our intention to be heavy-handed,” he said. “We’re interested in community-based policing not heavy-handed policing.”

Members of the community are welcoming the AFZ and have expressed confidence in their local police force.

“We’ve seen the same system implemented in the block . . . and police were very sympathetic to all parties and it has achieved a brilliant result,” said the representative for the People’s Precinct of Waterloo, Ross Smith. “We see it as being a win-win.”

Executive Officer of The Factory Community Centre, Michael Shreenan agreed. “I think you’ll see a big difference in the atmosphere of the Waterloo Green.”

Signage for the Alcohol Free Zone will be installed on August 30.