Canterbury University might not have to fence off its campus after all.
A change to the Local Government Act means a local alcohol ban in the Christchurch suburbs of Riccarton and Ilam will apply to private properties to which the public have access, such as the university's campus.
University vice-chancellor Rod Carr had said it might fence off the campus to protect its students from $250 fines under the proposed ban.
"The problem comes in simple areas such as the back yard of the hall of residence that might want to have a barbecue, and they don't particularly want to have to have a liquor licence in order to let their students have a beer with their barbecue," he said earlier this month.
However, a council hearings panel on on Thursday recommended the campus be exempt. The recommendation requires the approval of the full council.
The bylaw also proposes making permanent temporary alcohol bans which have been in place in Sumner on New Year's Eve and Addington on New Zealand Trotting Cup Day.