St Kilda foreshore booze ban extended until April

LONGER booze bans will be enforced along St Kilda foreshore amid fears it could “become another Cronulla”.

LONGER booze bans will be enforced along St Kilda foreshore amid fears it could “become another Cronulla”.

The bans come after thousands of drunken revellers trashed the popular beach on Christmas Day, leaving behind a $23,000 clean-up bill.

POLICE PUSH FOR ST KILDA FORESHORE BOOZE BAN

DRUNK REVELLERS LEAVE BEHIND $18K CLEAN-UP BILL ON ST KILDA’S FORESHORE

WILD BRAWL AT ST KILDA BEACH AND MCDONALD’S

More than 20 people voiced their concerns for and against the proposed bans at a marathon Port Phillip council meeting, which lasted more than three hours last night.

Donovans restaurant owner Kevin Donovan said St Kilda’s reputation would be “irreparably damaged” if bans did not get the green light.

Representatives of Luna Park, Palais Theatre, The Stokehouse, St Kilda Sea Baths and St Kilda Life Saving Club supported further bans amid escalating violence and fears for public safety.

Rubbish left by Christmas Day revellers at St. Kilda foreshore. Picture: Nicole Garmston

Sea Baths spokeman Travis Atkins said “it was only a matter of time” before there was a major incident.

“This has the ability to become another Cronulla,” he said.

But Aaron Webb, administrator of the Ban the Ban Facebook page, said St Kilda was “not like the rest of Australia”.

“It’s a bit loose; it’s not a sterile place,” he said.

“Saying people can’t have a drink at St Kilda Beach is like Mt Buller telling people they can’t ski.”

Mr Webb said banning grog along the foreshore would “risk damaging the global reputation of St Kilda”.

“(Tourists) will go back to their country and tell people not to come,” he said.

Alcohol bans are in place at other popular beaches in Australia, including Bondi and Coogee.

Port Phillip Inspector Jason Kelly said since the bans were extended on December 26 there had been “significant improvements” to public safety.

“There has been a reduction in public intoxication offences, reduced crimes and an enhanced perception of public safety,” he said.

Cr Tim Baxter accused Victoria Police of running a fear mongering campaign to scare up support for further bans.

“That has done more to tarnish our reputation than a party on the beach,” he said.

Mayor Bernadene Voss used her casting vote to break a deadlock in favour of extending the bans until April.