Police crack down on Woolgoolga Beach parties and underage drinking
Police have condemned large underage parties at Woolgoolga Beach on the NSW north coast following a trashed beach, fights and drinking. Here’s why parents are concerned.
Police & Courts
Don't miss out on the headlines from Police & Courts. Followed categories will be added to My News.
An underage party has left Woolgoolga Beach trashed, leaving police on alert after the random gathering was marred by assaults and drinking.
The event included alcohol and drugs, with video footage circulating of brutal fights between youths.
Coffs-Clarence police confirmed in a statement that the “unauthorised” beach gathering with a number of young people took place on Saturday, October 29.
Coffs Coast Regional Park Trust Board Chair, Rod McKelvey said the parties left two local beaches trashed, with “hundreds of cans, bottles, plastic bags, clothing, phones and condoms to enter the ocean at high tide”.
Like many residents, Mr McKelvey was left outraged after seeing the beaches left in such a state.
“The parties were held in the dunes and left litter strewn into the ocean, a volunteer Landcare site smashed, and threatened animal breeding sites trampled,” he said.
Woolgoolga Back Beach Landcare have tended to the site for over 35 years.
“Dune parties cause significant damage to remnant bushland. This site is special and a rare example of a dune system that wasn’t previously sand mined, so it still has the unique hind dune structure that protects littoral rainforest behind it,” Mr McKelvey said.
The damage to the sites included cutting down and burning of the historic trees, causing serious damage to a dune system considered “sensitive and endangered” – as listed by the Endangered Ecologic Community.
Mr McKelvey said the dunes are a critical buffer to limit forecasted coastal erosion impacts on Woolgoolga and Sandy Beach, and damage may cause the dunes to “blow out”.
“Not only was dune vegetation damaged, but the location of the party is where Green Turtle and Little Tern breeding is known to occur – both are at-risk species,” he said.
“Just last year we had a successful Green Turtle nest hatching in this section of beach.”
One attendee reported underage drinking and drug-taking, as well as numerous fights involving children.
“Drunk kids can’t handle their alcohol so then they fight,” the witness said.
They worry the problem won’t stop – even with added police presence.
“It’ll happen at every party they throw no matter what,” the witness said.
The party is alleged to have started at Woolgoolga Main Beach before moving to Back Beach as police were notified.
Police said in a statement they are aware of another planned underage event on Saturday, November 5, and warn “those who attend face significant penalties and unwanted police attention”.
On social media, several parents have expressed concern about their children's safety while others have been blamed for a lack of duty of care.
A few months earlier, several brutal attacks on teens occurred at Woolgoolga Skatepark.
A Facebook user posted: “It’s what happens when drugs, alcohol and bullying come to the party. Kids edge each other on to hurt others and usually film it thinking it’s cool.
“People get hurt and some are scarred for life from this.”
Another Facebook user said: “How sick have we become, when kids can’t get together.”
Police NSW is urging parents to be responsible for their children's safety.
“Parents are reminded of their obligation for supervision and offences relating to the supply of alcohol to minors. Don’t drop your children off at these parties,” Police NSW said.
Anyone with information or video recordings of the incidents is urged to contact Coffs Harbour Police Station on 6691 0799 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
Man admits to ‘problem’ with child abuse material
A Coffs Coast man admitted to having a “problem” with child abuse material when he was found with horror files of victims as young as one-year-old. Warning: Graphic
Kickboxer accused of road rage murder was protecting mum: court
A kickboxer accused of a savage road rage murder outside his Mid-North Coast home claims he was protecting his mother inside the house, a court heard.