North Head: Full moon party blasted, faeces, beer bottles found
Residents and authorities have been left disgusted after an illegal full moon rave was thrown in North Head over the weekend, leaving the national park littered with smashed beer bottles, gas canisters and even human faeces. An MP has also issued a stern warning to those involved.
Manly
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A full moon rave which left behind smashed beer bottles, cigarettes and human faeces at the North Head walk in the national park has sparked police inquiries.
Pictures taken by a resident shows bags of trash, smashed glass, a table and a market stall gazebo left behind from unauthorised activities on Saturday night.
Resident Ronia Bourke came across the mess at Sydney Harbour National Park during an early Sunday morning bushwalk and said she was “fighting back the distress”.
“Videos which were uploaded on Instagram show there was a full moon rave with hundreds of people there,” Ms Bourke said.
“It was a very organised set up with power cables, a full DJ set up, a market stall gazebo and a generator for power. In one of the videos’s there’s an electric guitar playing so it was a full blown rave.
“They go there because it’s far away from homes. It’s not the first time it’s happened here. I want people to be brought to justice, we need to put a stop to this. This is one of the most sacred national parks in Australia. This isn’t just a bit of bush for a bunch to have a rave, it’s sacred land.”
She said it was “disturbing” for a number of reasons, addressing the North Head accident which ended in the death of Annika Ferry just two weeks ago.
“Not only were they in this huge group of people not being considerate of COVID-19 but there has just been a tragedy there and these people were partying in the dark, drinking and on drugs near a cliff drop.
“It’s disrespectful to the woman who died and they’re risking their on personal safety.”
On Sunday morning members of the community got together to clean up the trash left behind.
Ms Bourke is working with police and Manly state Liberal MP James Griffin by providing pictures of the trash and videos which were uploaded by the ravers onto Instagram.
A NSW Police spokeswoman confirmed inquiries were continuing into the incident.
“Police today received reports of an unauthorised party at North Head over the weekend,” the spokeswoman said.
“Officers from Northern Beaches Police Area Command are working with National Parks to conduct inquiries. No further information is available at this time.”
Mr Griffin published a post on Facebook warning “whoever did this, you’re in strife”.
“This is an absolute disgrace and shameful destruction of one of the most beautiful areas in Sydney,” he wrote on Facebook.
Speaking to the Manly Daily, he added it was now a “police matter” after calling for an investigation.
“Whether it’s concern about COVID-19, the proximity to cliff edge or vandalism and destruction of the environment - the behaviour that took place is entirely inappropriate and I’m sure the Northern Beaches Police will make every effort to brings those responsible to account,” Mr Griffin said.
“As the Member for Manly I find this completely unacceptable, the trashing of our national park. Second to that as the NSW Parliamentary Secretary for Environment, it’s disappointing people would treat our environment in such a disgusting and disrespectful way.
“The images I’ve seen go beyond a weekend where people have gone to a public space to have a drink.”
NSW National Parks said staff helped to clean up the trash.
“NPWS staff and volunteers cleaned up the site Sunday and are deeply disappointed that people behave like this in a national park,” a NPWS spokesman said.
“People are reminded that unauthorised activities such as these are illegal and organisers face prosecution.
“The NPWS is working with Police on this matter and anyone with information is asked to contact the NPWS or Crimestoppers.”