Council agrees on 24-hour alcohol ban for popular Mordialloc foreshore
The area has been plagued by a number of alcohol fuelled incidents over summer, and now a police request has driven Kingston Council to enforce a drastic new measure at Mordialloc.
Inner South
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The Mordialloc foreshore will become a 24-hour alcohol-free zone in February.
The decision comes on the back of a request from Victoria Police to consider a year-round 24-hour ban to assist officers in tackling an increase in alcohol-related anti-social behaviour in Mordialloc.
Alcohol-fuelled violence and other crime has plagued the area over summer.
In December the Leader obtained video of a massive brawl on Mordialloc beach which ended with three people taken to hospital.
Following the incident a local father and paramedic told the Leader “as soon as it gets hot the youths hit the coast, buying alcohol in Chelsea.”
Last week a boy was stabbed near Mordialloc Creek, which is included in the current alcohol free zone, after getting off the train.
Kingston Local Area Commander Inspector Matt Mulcahy said Victoria Police welcomes the decision to implement a 24-hour alcohol ban across the Mordialloc foreshore area.
“We work closely with the Kingston Council on all issues relating to safety in the Mordialloc and broader Kingston community,” he said.
“We want to reassure the community that police are working hard to ensure everyone can safely enjoy the bayside beaches and all that they have to offer.
“While we have not responded to many alcohol-related incidents at the Mordialloc foreshore, we want to remind the community that we won’t tolerate any form of anti-social or disruptive behaviour.”
Currently there is a ban on drinking alcohol in the Mordialloc foreshore area from 9pm – 7am. The changes will see that extended to a 24-hour ban and bring Mordialloc in line with Kingston’s other popular foreshore areas, Chelsea and Carrum.
Kingston Mayor Georgina Oxley said the alcohol-free zones are about supporting Victoria Police to ensure popular public places can be enjoyed by all the community.
“We want to make sure that visitors to our beautiful foreshore areas including Mordialloc can enjoy themselves without having to experience alcohol-related anti-social behaviour,” Cr Oxley said.
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Kingston Council sought community feedback to the proposal before voting to approve the changes to the alcohol-free at a council meeting on Wednesday night.
Council hopes the amended hours will also help reduce alcohol-related littering in the foreshore area.
The Mordialloc alcohol-free zone was first declared in October 1999 between 1 October and 31 March for the hours of 9pm and 7am.
This was amended in 2006 to make the zone operate all year round between 9pm and 7am and to include the area known as Pompei’s landing.
The new change is expected to take effect in early to mid-February 2020.