Police and Charles Sturt Council call for a dry zone at Midcourse Reserve

Drunken behaviour at a popular West Lakes park, including thefts from nearby shops, has prompted calls from police and Charles Sturt Council for a dry zone.

Drunken behaviour and theft at a West Lakes reserve popular with children has prompted calls from police for a dry zone.

The rise in booze-fuelled antics has been caused by more stringent policing of dry zones further north in Port Adelaide, displacing the drinkers to Midcourse Reserve.

According to a report presented to Charles Sturt councillors last night, drinking to excess, littering and theft from the nearby West Lakes Hotel bottle shop have become a daily occurrence.

Police have attended the reserve — opposite Westfield West Lakes — regularly of late in response to resident complaints and made a number of arrests.

A dry zone sign in the city. Photo: Tait Schmaal

However, police have little power to intervene until the situation escalates because the area has not been declared a booze-free zone.

Residents have been verbally and physically assaulted when trying to personally intervene at the reserve, which has a public barbecue and playground.

Acting Superintendent Charmaine Peters wrote to Charles Sturt Council acting public health and safety manager Adam Filipi at the end of last month to strongly support a dry zone.

“Western District Police resources have been responding to … requests for attendance and have spent considerable time communicating and speaking with reserve users regarding these anti-social behaviour and offence matters,” the letter read.

The proposed dry zone would also extend to Shoreline Reserve.

Grange Ward councillor Sarah McGrath said while the park had been a hotspot for police, there had been a pattern of drunken behaviour all around the lake.

“We’ve had resident complaints from all around the lake, even on Delfin Island, across to Bartley Terrace,” Cr McGrath said.

“(Midcourse Reserve) is the biggest one people are concerned about. Ideally, we would like to roll a (dry zone) trial around all the lakeside areas.

“They upgraded the park in the last 12 months to make it much more family friendly with play equipment and stuff.”

West Lakes Hotel declined to comment.

Public consultation would begin in mid-April and a report would be brought back to Charles Sturt Council for a decision on the dry zone.

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