A tug of war between a new liquor store and concerned residents in a small Southland town is putting the future of an unlikely third party at jeopardy.

The Southland District Licensing Committee is expected to release its decision this week on whether the Ōtautau Hotel, based in the town 50km north-west of Invercargill, can open a fourth off-license in nearby Riverton — a small coastal town with a population of 1500.

But there is more at stake than accessibility to sell alcohol. If the new venue was not allowed to go ahead, it could spell the end of the Riverton Community Arts Centre.

The centre has operated out of a building on Riverton’s main street for close to 20 years, more recently assisted by a landlord who had helped keep it going.

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The shortfall in rent was made up for by other businesses sharing the building, but new tenants could be hard to find, and a replacement has not been found for the hairdresser who closed about a year ago.

A hearing on the application was held last week.

When the news came an off-licence could be the latest addition to the lease, both the landlord and art space leapt at the possibility.

But not everyone in the community was so enthusiastic.

Key community figures — including a general practitioner, deputy school principal and charitable trust — have all opposed the new store opening.

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Riverton resident Denis Bartley also presented, and felt there were enough premises already serving the small community.

One of the most colourful members of the Riverton Art Centre said he was on the fence over whether he wanted the store to go ahead.

Riverton art stalwart Wayne Hill at his coastal home, which he shares with 108 surfboards. Photo: Matthew Rosenberg/LDR

Wayne Hill is an artist, surfboard shaper and longest-serving member of the art centre. He even had a room named after him.

“My passion is the arts. I’m in a quandary with this one,” Hill said.

“I drink myself, but how many outlets do we need? Back in the sealing and whaling days in Riverton, there used to be 100 licensed (or unlicensed) alcohol outlets or bars.

“Every person had a license to brew their own . . . Making whiskey out of cabbage tree leaves, or fermented potato peelings."

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Hill said there was a glimmer of that in Riverton after race days when youths fill the streets, leaving a sea of broken glass in their wake.

But Riverton Community Arts Centre chairperson Wendy Lopez cannot see a problem with a new store and sealing the future of the art community.

Lopez points out the only places to buy off-licence alcohol in the town are the supermarket and two pubs, with not everyone comfortable using those those outlets.

“I don’t understand the objections of the people in Riverton. Their main issue is too many alcohol outlets in Riverton which is not the case at all.”

Ōraka-Aparima Community Board chairman Graeme Stuart confirmed there were five objectors to Ōtautau Hotel being given the license to operate the store but did not wish to comment further before a decision was made.

By Local Democracy Reporter Matthew Rosenberg

Republished by Arrangement