Police, council and nightclubs to create safety summit for Double Bay in wake of increased alcohol-related violence

WOOLLAHRA Council will hold a meeting with police and stakeholders in the Double Bay after alcohol-related violence saw a 28-year-old man hospitalised on Saturday.

A man has been knocked unconscious during an assault on Cross St Double Bay at around 1am this morning. The man was with two other friends when he got into a verbal argument with five other men near a taxi. The man was punched and knocked back in to the taxi. The injured mans friends could be seen comforting each other and giving details to police. The taxi driver also waited to give details to police. the injured man was taken to hospital for treatment. Picture: Gordon McComiskie

WOOLLAHRA Council will hold a meeting with police and stakeholders in the Double Bay after alcohol-related violence saw a 28-year-old man hospitalised on Saturday.

The man was punched into a taxi after becoming involved in an argument over the car on Cross St.

Woollahar mayor Toni Zeltzer with Liberal Cr Anthony Marano

Rose Bay police also arrested and charged a 31-year-old Victorian man with possession and supply of ecstasy and cocaine.

Woollahra Mayor Toni Zeltzer said a meeting with Rose Bay commander Supt Brad Hodder and stakeholders comes in “the context of this new incident”.

She suggested representatives from “Casablanca, the hotel (InterContinental), and venues in Cross St in particular” would attend.

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Last week, Liberal councillors Anthony Marano and Katherine O’Regan moved to have a report into the feasibility of having CCTV cameras in Double Bay.

“This is not going to go away, especially with the summer months coming up,” Cr Marano said.

“A lot of these venues weren’t there last summer, lockout laws didn’t exist. It’s created a recipe for trouble which has to be managed.”

The scene at Double Bay after an assault which saw a man hospitalised. Picture: Gordon McComiskie

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Cr Marano drew a direct link between the Kings Cross lockouts and an increase in violence and drug culture in Double Bay.

“I have lived in the eastern suburbs all my life and I never remember this sort of violence happening in Double Bay,” he said.

“It does seem to be happening more regularly,” he said.

Superintendent Brad Hodder Commander at Rose Bay Police.

Double Bay Night Life is on the rise. Picture: Gordon McComiskie

“It seems like once a fortnight there seems to be an incident and with the warmer months upon us, more people go out. Double Bay is the new hotspot.”

Cr O’Regan said the council’s traffic committee had moved to add another taxi rank on Cross St this week.

She said she would like the report on CCTV to be completed with a “sense of urgency” and the meeting with key stakeholders to occur before December.