Mona Vale, Seabeach Gardens: Safety concerns about drunken yobs prompts action on alcohol-free street zone

Drunken foul mouthed teens “acting out under the balconies” of a retirement village on the northern beaches have prompted the extension of a booze-free street zone.

Complaints about drunken hoons upsetting residents and carers at a retirement village on the northern beaches has led to the extension of an “Alcohol Free Zone” at a notorious late night street drinking site.

Northern Beaches Council has voted to expand the grog ban around the Mona Vale town centre after residents’ concerns were raised about noisy louts “drinking and acting out under their balconies” at the nearby Seabeach Gardens seniors living complex.

The Seabeach Gardens retirement village at Mona Vale where residents had safety concerns due to drunken louts “drinking and “acting out” under their the balconies. Picture: Baldwin Living

But some locals complained to the council that extending the AFZ — set up to “support the police and council rangers in the management of alcohol related anti-social behaviour” — was “over-regulation” and would “impinge on community rights to use public space”.

And some councillors said designated booze-free zones were not needed because police already had the power to move people on who were engaging in anti-social behaviour.

Locals who contacted the council said the behaviour of late night drinkers, who gather in a nearby park, was making the Seabeach Gardens residents feel unsafe.

The council received 52 submissions about extending the AFZ — 34 were in favour of it.

Northern Beaches Police Commander, Superintendent Pat Sharkey, advised the council that police supported the extension of the zone.

A map showing the existing, and extended, Alcohol Free Zone around the Mona Vale town centre. Picture: Northern Beaches Council

“For some years, local young men have used the parkland area adjacent to the Seabeach Gardens Village to consume alcohol late at night, resulting in loud shouting and filthy language,” one submission stated.

“Carers working at the village are scared to leave the village to walk past these hoodlums to the bus stop.”

A submission opposed to the AFZ extension stated that it restricted “people’s freedom”.

“The idea of AFZs is generally a joke. In Europe, no one ever would consider anything like it. NSW needs to stop to be such a nanny place and go with the times.”

Another wrote that it was a “ridiculous proposal to reduce residents’ rights”.

Carers from the retirement village are “scared” to walk past hoodlums on their way to the bus stop, the council was told. Picture: Supplied

Cr Michael Gencher, of the Your Northern Beaches Independents team, told the meeting that, the AFZ extension was requested by the Seabeach Gardens residents who wanted to feel safer and “not have people outside their doors and under their balconies, drinking and acting out”.

“I think the thoughts and concerns of residents at the aged care facility far outweigh (those of) the youth who want to sit and have a drink at the bus stop.”

Green’s Cr Kristyn Glanville said while it was an “unpleasant situation” for residents, she questioned the “utility” of AFZs for addressing the issue. She said if people were being disruptive while drinking alcohol, police already have “move on” powers.

“I think there is unlikely to be any improvement in the situation because, as people already know, for things like this, you already wait hours for a police officer or a ranger to arrive.”

Seabeach Gardens management has been contacted for comment.

The new AFZ starts on October 1.