Council plans to tighten alcohol control at local sporting fixtures.
The consumption of grog at sports grounds across Maitland will be tightened if council’s revised alcohol policy is adopted on Tuesday night.
Among those affected will be fans at Maitland Sportsground No.1.
After 28 days on exhibition, council received only one submission asking that the draft be amended.
Councillors will consider the request by Maitland Pickers to amend the service of alcohol in the new policy by an hour.
“Should lighting improvements in the future permit the playing of football at night, and we have to play carry-over games from washed out weekends, we seek to have the opening time moved forward from 7pm to 6pm Monday to Thursdays,” Pickers publicity officer Geoff Perkins said.
“Naturally the provisions currently in place preventing the sale of alcohol during or immediately after a junior’s game would remain in force.”
Mr Perkins said the club was also in favour of council’s proposed wet areas and alcohol exclusion zones.
“With the canteen and bar area currently using the same building we propose a galvanised pipe fence be constructed from the nib on the building that currently divides the serving areas to a point further down the hill,” he said.
“A similar barrier could be erected at the northern end of the grandstands.
“This will allow the entire hill for the use of families, our jumping castle and the kicking of footballs before the main game to children that are present.”
MCC community and recreation services manager Lyn Morton said the policy had been amended to facilitate those catch-up games.
The boundaries of alcohol service areas, she said, would be a matter to be determined at numerous sportsgrounds in consultation with police.
“The Alcohol Policy – Sportsgrounds, Facilities and Reserves will provide a framework to regulate the sale, storage and consumption of alcohol at all sporting facilities in Maitland,” Ms Morton said.