Malabar Headland: Calls to lock gates as illegal parties on rise

Calls have been made to lock people out of a scenic national park in Sydney’s southeast following a rise in illegal parties held in precious bushland.

A community group has called for the gates into Malabar Headland National Park to be locked each evening following an increase in illegal raves and parties among the bushland.

The ongoing issue resurfaced on Saturday night at the headland with police called out to the latest unauthorised party.

Officers with the help of the PolAir helicopter dispersed a crowd around midnight and a 27-year-old man was arrested and charged with allegedly possessing cocaine, LSD tabs and cannabis.

A party at Malabar headland in November last year. Picture: Instagram

Police also received reports shortly after of another party a few kilometres away near La Perouse, where they discovered a big group of people in bushland at Henry Head in the Kamay Botany Bay National Park.

Party goers fled and police seized sound and lighting equipment. Two men were arrested and charged with continue intoxicated behaviour after move-on direction.

In December, Eastern Beaches Police warned party goers these type of events would not be tolerated, following a string of illegal parties being shut down at Malabar headland.

Eastern Beaches Police Acting Superintendent Samantha Fordy doubled down on that warning this week following the latest incidents.

A party at Malabar headland last year. Picture: Instagram

She said unauthorised gatherings of this kind posed a serious risk to attendees and responding police.

“Police will work closely with officers from Randwick City Council and the National Parks and Wildlife Service to target these events and prosecute offenders accordingly,” she said.

“The local community and environment are also being impacted by the noise and the rubbish left behind.”

Friends of Malabar Headland chairman David Pyett said the problem had grown worse in the past 12 months and often resulted in bushland being trashed.

“It is increasing. It is a disaster for us,” he said.

Party goers at a rave near Malabar Headland. Picture: Instagram

“(Party goers) go off into the bush wherever they feel like it and it is not just rubbish they leave behind it is human excrement.”

He said members of the group had found all kinds of rubbish left behind from unauthorised parties.

“You can find anything from lounge chairs to eskies to human crap not to mention billions of bottle caps.”

He said it largely fell on the National Parks and Wildlife Service, who manage the parks, as well as police to stop the events.

“But National Parks don’t have the budget. They are at their wits’ end.

“We would like to see them put locks on the gates and go down and lock them at night like they do at Centennial Park.”

Entry gates preventing access to the eastern section of the Malabar Headland National Park are currently in place and mainly used while people are using the rifle range.

Mr Pyett said there was endangered shrub in the Malabar headland which was at risk of being destroyed by people abusing the bushland.

“We try and explain to people that the Eastern Suburbs Banksia Scrub there is extremely endangered.

“The more they ignore it the more we are just going to lose it ... it is excruciatingly special.”

A NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) spokesman said illegal parties were often held at night and associated with drug and alcohol use in areas where the consequences of slips, trips and falls can be extreme.

“The NPWS works with NSW Police ... and has installed surveillance cameras and employ security guards to patrol key areas.

“Illegal party organisers face penalties, seizure of their equipment and clean up or site rehabilitation costs.”

Randwick Mayor Danny Said encouraged residents who witnessed or became aware of planned illegal parties in the area to contact local police or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

“While it is great to see people getting out and enjoying our wonderful open spaces, activities such as illegal parties create disturbances, can damage the environment and often result in unnecessary and expensive clean-ups.”