Mt Martha beach: ‘Despicable, brainless youths’ hosting boozy parties
‘‘Despicable, brainless youths” from as far away as Dandenong are trashing popular Mornington Peninsula beaches during boozy parties — and fed-up locals want action.
South East
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Sumer strife has come early to Mount Martha beaches as teens from as far away as Dandenong organise underage parties on the sand.
Fed up locals say the regular gatherings are noisy, destructive and leave a big mess for morning walkers.
Residents have reported finding piles of rubbish including smashed bottles around beach boxes at Mount Martha South Beach and in one instance the stairs from a Mount Martha North boat shed were used to fuel a bonfire.
“Despicable, brainless youths obviously had a fun night around their camp fire which was fuelled by vandalised beach box stairs,” Julie Mason posted on social media.
“Idiots also broke several bottles of alcohol and then buried the evidence in the sand.
“I’m so over school leavers already and summer holidays haven’t even started yet.”
Another resident said she collected six garbage bags of rubbish left behind by party goers earlier this month.
Police were aware of the concerns and had been running extra patrols.
Mornington Acting Sergeant Scott MacLean said underage parties were an annual problem on Mt Martha beaches but the gatherings had started earlier this year as teens let off steam after lockdown.
“That’s been compounded by the fact that there’s nothing organised for young people, including no official schoolies weeks event.”
Sgt Maclean said teens aged 15 to 17 were using Facebook to organise last minute parties around beach boxes at South Beach Mt Martha.
“It’s a mix of local kids and those from Dandenong and Frankston,” he said.
“They can catch the bus right to Mt Martha South Beach which gives them easy access.”
Sgt Maclean said while police had adopted a zero tolerance approach to underage drinking in the area it was difficult to catch offenders.
“We respond to calls from residents but it’s dark and the kids see us coming with our torches and scatter," he said.
Patrols would be ramped up on warmer days and nights under Operation Summersafe, he said.
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