WESTERN Cape MEC for Finance, Economic Development & Tourism, Garth Strachan, believes Cape Town’s draft by-law that proposes to significantly cut down on liquor trading hours will negatively impact on business and tourism, especially with 2010 just around the corner.
 
Strachan will personally deliver the provincial government’s position on the city’s proposed by-law at a public hearing at the Civic Centre tomorrow morning.
 
A statement from his office said Strachan believed that “with tourism contributing to more than 10% of the Western Cape’s GRP (Gross Regional Product) and being a major source of jobs, it is vital to ensure that Cape Town remains a destination of choice”.
 
The one-day public hearing takes place tomorrow (Tuesday) on the 5th floor, Crush Room, Podium Block at the Civic Centre, 12 Hertzog Boulevard. Strachan will make the province’s presentation between 09h20 to 09h30.
 
The city’s Liquor Policy Task Team will deliberate on all public submissions received by February 27. A final draft will serve before a special Planning & Environmental Portfolio Committee meeting before it is tabled at a Mayoral Committee Meeting on March 9 for approval by full council at the end of March.
 
For a copy of the draft by-law please refer to www.capetown.gov.za/bylaws.
 
Comments can be submitted by e-mail to liquor.bylaw@capetown.gov.za or by fax to (021) 400 1465.
 
Copies of the draft by-law are available at all Cape Town sub-council offices as well as libraries.