Church Point: Call for Scotland Island ’social hub’ to be alcohol free

It’s a tradition that Scotland Island residents have enjoyed for years - a few afternoon drinks at Church Point. But now there has been a call to make it alcohol free.

A mum has called for alcohol to be banned at a public reserve at Church Point where Scotland Island residents and onshore friends like to meet for afternoon drinks.

The Scotland Island resident wrote to Northern Beaches Council to express her concerns about the alleged anti-social behaviour of some of the drinkers.

She claims that she and her son were verbally abused on one occasion and she had to call the police.

In her letter that was read out at the Northern Beaches Council meeting on Tuesday night she said when police arrived the “drinking crowd” refused to identify the person who had allegedly abused her.

Aerial view of Church Point on the Northern Beaches of Sydney.

“I don’t believe this would have happened and the culprit be protected if people were sober and of sound mind, i.e. not drug affected,” the mum wrote.

She called for the area, next to the Church Point Ferry Wharf, to be made alcohol free.

It came as the council looked at renewing Alcohol Free Zones in the vicinity of the area and at a number of other sites around the beaches which are due to run out on December 9.

Alcohol Free Zones can only be applied to public roads, footpaths and public carparks to reduce disruptive and anti-social behaviour as well as alcohol-related crime in public places. They often work in partnership with other alcohol-free orders, which relate to parks and reserves.

The Scotland Island Ferry goes to and from Church Point, which is a meeting hub for offshore and onshore residents.

A council report stated that there were 53 submissions in relation to the Church Point application.

It found that 55 per cent supported the re-establishment of the zones.

“There was a mixed response in submissions, particularly in relation to the use of the area as a social hub for onshore and offshore residents,” the report said.

“While some respondents perceive this as a practice and tradition that is an important aspect of the community, others expressed that this activity negatively impacts community use of this shared space.”

Juliet Wills, who is secretary of the Scotland Island Residents Association, but did not want to speak on behalf of the group, said her personal view was that Church Point was “like a piazza that every community needs”.

Church Point is the access point to the mainland for offshore residents. The annual dog paddle between Church Point and Scotland Island. Photo: Alec Kingham, Wednesday 24 December 2014

She said it was a place for everyone to come together.

“There are dogs, kids, the elderly and the young,” she said.

“It’s a hive of activity.”

She said while she did not condone any bad behaviour she said like in any society occasionally when people come together, people can behave badly.

“It can happen, it should not happen,” Ms Wills said.

“I don’t think it’s an overall reflection of the community.”

The council report found that police supported the move to renew the Alcohol Free Zones at Church Point which includes a portion of Mccarrs Creek Rd and Pittwater Rd and the nearby car park, as well as other zones in Avalon, Dee Why, Freshwater, Mona Vale, Newport and Palm Beach.

Cr Pat Daley told the Manly Daily that the issue of drinking in public parks was something that needed to be addressed by the council following unacceptable behaviour by revellers at East Esplanade and Freshwater recently.