Liquor Accord chairman and Albury councillor Daryl Betteridge said fewer alcohol-related incidents from 2006 to 2010 proved the nightclub strip was safer than a decade ago.

The number of assaults — apart from domestic violence — involving alcohol fell 10 per cent in the five years. Most still occurred in Dean Street.

Offensive behaviour involving alcohol declined 8.9 per cent.

Recently released statistics and research confirms the trend, showing a 19 per cent drop in assaults last year on the 2010 figures.

Albury Council this week endorsed its draft alcohol and drugs management plan to cut the number of alcohol-related offences to fewer than the 618 reported in 2009.

Cr Betteridge said these statistics didn’t lie.

“They fly in the face of the popular perception Albury has an unacceptable high rate of anti-social incidents,” he said.

“Hard work by the council, police and the liquor accord is to be applauded.

“Our work is not done, but the stats support our initiatives.

“We faced some challenges head on and I believe Albury is a now safe and vibrant place to live, work and raise a family.

“The penny is dropping — the message is finally hitting home that individuals need to take responsibility for their actions.”

Albury’s licensed clubs, pubs, restaurants and cafes — the region’s major entertainment centre — generate $176 million a year.

The management plan, which will be on display for 28 days, contains a snapshot of alcohol-related assaults in Albury.

Of the 416 non-domestic assaults in Albury in 2010, 48 per cent were alcohol related.

The rate of non-domestic assaults in 2009 attributed to alcohol was almost double the state rate with 618 compared with 323 per 100,000 people.

Dean Street and central Albury is clearly the main area for public assaults and Albury has 88 per cent more weekend alcohol-related assaults than the state rate with 586 compared to 311.

The creation of the plan began in May last year when 75 people met and put forward their opinions about alcohol and drugs in Albury.