Locals petition against Edinburgh Gardens possible summer booze ban

Locals fight against possible banning of alcohol in the Edinburgh Gardens this summer after public urination and drug use claims are taken to council.

Isaac and Eliza Cook with their 8 month-old Ruben relaxing at Edinburgh Gardens in North Fitzroy in Melbourne.

Boozy picnics and raucous parties could be outlawed in Edinburgh Gardens this summer as Yarra Council considers extending its controversial booze ban.

Neighbours’ complaints about rowdy visitors, drug use and public urination have sparked a council push to stretch the gardens no grog NYE ban through to February 1.

Currently alcohol is allowed between 9am and 9pm, but will be banned from 9pm December 30 until 9am January 1.

The NYE ban came in after more than 20,000 people gathered to party into the new year in 2014 ending in property damage and a huge clean up.

But a rival faction of residents have started a Facebook group and petition urging council to spike the ban plan.

The petition has gathered 442 signatures in about 24 hours and organisers claim the proposal is an unnecessary impact on residents triggers by a vocal minority.

Long term Yarra resident Lia Vandersant said the answer was better facilities such as toilets, not a blanket booze ban.

“People have enjoyed using the Eddy Gardens in the way it’s currently being used for thirty years … These few newcomers to the area want to change things and basically take away something we’ve always enjoyed, in fact, treasured,” she said.

“Perhaps it’s time for an upgrade to support our lifestyle, rather than robbing us of it.”

New Year’s Eve 2014 in the Edinburgh Gardens, North Fitzroy. Picture: Tim Carrafa

Yarra Council compliant and parking services manager Stewart Mark in a report to council found the proposal might not even solve the issues.

“The banning of alcohol may not resolve a number of issues that are occurring and will require an ongoing commitment by the police to enforce,” he said.
“There have been in recent months an increased number of people in all our parks throughout

the municipality, not just Edinburgh Gardens. This has also been the case throughout

metropolitan Melbourne.”

Northern Metropolitan MP Fiona Patten on Thursday announced she would ask the state government to invest in more public toilets and bins for the Edinburgh Gardens.

RMIT Centre for Urban Research PhD student Juliana Rozek said: “The anti-social behaviour issues in the Edinburgh Gardens are a challenge and Yarra Council should engage with the wider community to find resolutions. However, banning alcohol will not address the core problem: there just aren’t enough parks and amenities (bins and toilets) in the inner-north of Melbourne to meet demand.”

A planned public meeting will take place today at the Edinburgh Gardens rotunda about 6.30pm.

Paul, a concerned local who attends the park at least twice daily and spends hours at the park on weekends with his kelpie, said the proposals are ridiculous and needs to be stopped.

“The proposals brought on by a few rich ass****s who think they own the park have somehow made it to the council agenda through baseless lies,” Paul said.

“Edinburgh Gardens is one of the best and most peaceful parks in Melbourne, there is never any trouble despite the park packed with sometimes thousands of people on weekends.

“There was a slight issue with recycling bins overflowing and a bit of urination at the back of the pavilion on the first balmy night out of lockdown but the council to their credit rectified the issue instantly with portable toilets and increased recycle bins.

“Even when the bins overflow there is never litter strewn anywhere as groups usually stack up their litter neatly next to the bins.”

Yarra councillors will discuss two options at the December 15 meeting to decide the park’s summer agenda.

The first is for nothing to change and for alcohol be allowed between 9am and 9pm.

The second is to stop all alcohol consumption in the gardens until February 1.