The Block declared alcohol-free

The Redfern area, owned by the Aboriginal Housing Company, is one of 22 new alcohol-free zones approved at last night's council meeting.

The other zones are on streets in Surry Hills, Pyrmont, Leichhardt, Newtown, Chippendale and The Rocks.

Deputy Lord Mayor Marcelle Hoff says Aboriginal elders at Redfern want the zone in place.

"It enables the elders down there to just gently say to some of their people, 'Look, this is an alcohol-free zone, don't drink here please,' and it works," she said.

"They do it in a very gentle and respectful way and they're able to get them not to do that in the area where the children are."

Aboriginal Housing Company chief executive Mick Mundine says the measure will improve the community's relationship with the police because public drinking is the source of a lot of problems.

But he says the main binge drinking offenders in the area are not locals. Mr Mundine says outsiders have been causing problems at The Block for some time.

"Enough is enough. The people that come here and drink around this community... should stay with the alcohol, drink in the hotels," he said.

"Don't come here and use and abuse the community."

Mr Mundine says The Block's Aboriginal community should welcome the measure.

Councillor Hoff says communities have been behind the new alcohol-free zones in most cases.

New signs will go up and Sydneysiders in the affected areas will be informed about the changes over the next week.

Source: www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/07/07/2619190.htm?section=australia