By Torika Tokalau of Local Democracy Reporting
A tavern in Auckland will have to prove that it can resolve long standing issues, including noise complaints, if it wants to keep serving alcohol to its customers.
The Māngere Bridge Tavern was given a reduced one-year renewal of its on-licence, which allows it to sell alcohol, rather than the standard three year-term, by the Auckland District Licensing Committee (ADLC).
In a recently published decision, the ADLC noted that poor noise control, anti-social behaviour, inadequate systems and training, and insufficient attention to building and signage maintenance have persisted since the last licence renewal in 2022.
The tavern, operating under Bridge Storage Mb Limited, is run by Mark Walsh. His family have owned the business for over 30 years.
In 2022, the tavern’s licence was renewed with additional conditions imposed to mitigate concerns relating to noise, staff training and the state of the building.
Resident, Rowan Powell, objected to the application, concerned with the noise and anti-social behaviour.
In the decision, the resident said his home bore the brunt of the tavern’s noise, particularly on Friday and Saturday nights, when music with a heavy bass “thud” was played.
During summer, the lack of air conditioning meant that windows were left open, further increasing the volume of sound that escape, he said.
The resident said he’s called the tavern around a dozen times to complain about the noise with varied responses – sometimes no one answered, sometimes the complaint was acknowledged but no action followed, and on occasion the response was downright rude.
The resident said he’s given up complaining as nothing has changed.
He also said on occasions, there have been brawls in the tavern carpark, including one about 18 months ago.
On two occasions, someone jumped the fence and stole gardening equipment from his property, the resident claimed.
The tavern owner said noise management was a priority, with the tavern adhering to a self-imposed noise limit of 50 dBA, which was stricter than the requirement in the Auckland Unitary Plan.
Walsh said they conducted regular monitoring using a specialised sound level meter, and complaints have been minimal.
He stated that neighbours had access to the tavern’s number and most also have his personal number.
ADLC noted there was one recent noise complaint in July, 2024.
Walsh emphasised the tavern was a respected and integral part of the community, supporting local clubs, schools, and marae through the years.
In the recent decision, ADLC chairperson Marguerite Delbet said they questioned what further action was required before the applicant took their concerns seriously.
“As a result, we are not prepared to renew the licence for the standard three-year term,” she said.
“Instead, we believe a truncated renewal is warranted to require the applicant to demonstrate his commitment to addressing these long standing issues.”
