WHY NO TAKE AWAYS?

At the last renewal of our liquour licence in early 2006, we were advised by David Lewis, the Tasman District council licencing inspector, that we should apply for a variation on our resource concent to allow for an 'Off Licence' so we could legally sell beer to patrons to take away from the Mussel Inn. We were led to believe that this would be more or less a technicality and that he could see no reason why the variation should not be granted.

So the process was duely started and the monies paid for the resource application. The neighbours were notified and as was to be expected, the only objection came from Transit NZ who maintain our acess road (which happens to be state highway 60).

Months and months later - in fact, nearly a year later, our hearing was finally had. The Transit case was shakey at best, containing quite a lot of misinformation and unfounded assumptions - which didn't surprise us. The Council report was very supportive and basically reccommended that the variation be granted. The three councillors present seemed to recognise that what we were proposing was nothing more that what we had been doing for the past 10 years and we came away from the hearing feeling quite positive.

However - not so. And much time and money wasted.

The Council was not prepared to stand up to the Transit God.

And this God dictates that all state highways should be rated at 100kmph, regardless of form or use. (state highway 60 between Takaka and Collingwood was designed for a safe maximum speed of 80kmph. It is also the only access way to all those living between Takaka and Collingwood and is used by these residents as any suburban road is used - by cyclists, horse riders, kids walking to the bus stops etc)

And this God dictates that all activity along state highways should be actively discouraged. The highway is to get motor vehicals from A to B as quickly and smoothly as possible and exit ways onto the highway must be kept to a minimum and if exit ways are to be formed then the road shall be widened so as to allow through traffic to maintain 100kmph.

So no off licence for the Mussel Inn - no take aways. You'll just have to drive all the way to Fresh Choice Takaka and back if you want to have a beer at home. Dumb!

But wait! - since the only objection to this was a traffic issue - I seen no reason why we shouldn't mail you some of your favourite ale..... click here