Plan to fence off Victor Brazier Park at Guildford to stop ‘anti-social’ students

Drugs, burnouts, killing cats — a western Sydney park has become such an anti-social hotspot a school’s proposal to stop its youths using it for illegal activities has finally prevailed.

Victor Brazier Park at Guildford has become such a hotspot for drug taking and illegal activities that part of it will be fenced off, but it’s feared it won’t do much to stem the problem in the neighbourhood.

A small 140sq m parcel of land at the 7000sq m park bordering three houses will be sold off after constant requests from Granville South Creative and Performing Arts High School for Cumberland Council to change the layout and stop students gathering at the Excelsior St reserve opposite the school.

The small section of the park is hidden from the road that allows people to gather out of sight.

The section of Victor Brazier Park at Guildford the council will fence off.

At a recent local planning panel meeting, it was agreed that land would be sold and rezoned from recreational to residential. The owner has already expressed they would be interested in purchasing the land from the council.

But while the layout of the park will change, residents say the problems will continue because students will still use the nearby laneways such as Nadia Place and Caroline St to “do drugs, have sex’’ and vandalise residents’ property.

Part of the Victor Brazier Park was closed on the school’s request.

The park and laneways are a shortcut to reach the school and residents say problems have grown worse over the past 10 years.

Ludi and Maria Markho, who have lived at their Nadia Place home for 22 years, have witnessed burnt alleways, youths damaging their garage door and fences while ditching classes.

“We go to the school and they tell us to ring the police,’’ Mr Markho said.

“The police shake their hands and they leave. There’s bottles in the street.’’

Mrs Markho said the youths were “making out, sleeping with each other’’.

“They smoke and drink between 9am and 2pm,’’ she said.

Cumberland councillor Glenn Elmore at a troubled lane way off Nadia Place and Caroline St.

Another local, who requested not to be named, said youths set fire to a cat a couple of years ago.

“Usually kids get assaulted there, they have sex there,’’ she said.

The woman said adults also used the lane ways for criminal activities.

Cumberland councillor Glenn Elmore understood how the council was trying to take away the “hazard” but said “the school, council and the police need to conduct a joint safety audit into how the students, residents and the general public can work together to better use this space”.

Recently, the council closed the park entrance from Excelsior St in an effort to deter students using it during school hours.

A Cumberland Council spokeswoman said the fence had stopped burnouts and improved safety.

“Council has received frequent complaints from residents about anti-social behaviour in and around Victor Brazier Park,’’ she said.

“This has included cars entering the park and doing burn outs as well as reports of drinking and fighting.

“In relation to Nadia Place and Caroline St, council has installed mobile cameras and lighting. “Nearby property owners approached council to purchase the pedestrian thoroughfare to prevent access and so reduce anti-social behaviour. Council is considering that option to ensure it would not reduce pedestrian flow through the suburb.’’

An Education Department spokeswoman said staff regularly monitored the area but problems were not limited to school students.

“This is a community issue that does not just involve students from the school,’’ she said.

“Granville South Creative and Performing Arts High School works in partnership with parents, police and the community to support student behaviour and attendance.

“The school does not tolerate any anti-social behaviour and students are disciplined according to the Department of Education’s discipline policy, which includes informing parents and involving external agencies, such as police, as required.”

The council spokeswoman said it installed a footpath in the park to minimise student using the lane to reach the school.

‘We’ve also pruned trees and maintained the park to ensure clear sightline to minimise any areas of seclusion,’’ she said.

The council will again consider the rezoning of the 140sq m at a meeting and, if the it is supported, it will be sent to the state government for gateway determination. It will then undergo further community consultation and be finalised.

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