Drunken hoons too much for residents

A bid to banish late-night revellers from public land at North Shore's northeastern beaches will be made by residents who are fed up with acts of drunken vandalism such as throwing two garden gnomes through a cedar garage door.

Torbay and Long Bay residents, businesses and police are backing a liquor ban request to be heard tonight by the East Coast Bays Community Board.

Torbay Business Association chairman Tony Carter said security at the town centre was reviewed because of a rise in shop break-ins and cases of drunk and disorderly behaviour, vandalism, rubbish bin fires and general nuisance.

"We had proposed a liquor ban to cover the big car park, which seems to have become a place to congregate since other areas have been shut down with security patrols and liquor bans.

"But it was suggested to us that we extend the ban from the business area to include beaches and streets which are not covered by North Shore City Council's bylaw for permanent bans.

"We have huge support from residents, who told us they were annoyed and intimidated by bottles being thrown at windows, letter boxes smashed, people running through properties and piles of smashed bottles left on the beaches."

The suggested ban will cover the business area, Rock Isle Rd, Gray Crescent, Cliff Rd and the area of Beach Rd from the centre to Long Bay beach, including the carpark in front of the Marine Education Resource Centre and Vaughan Park Anglican Retreat.

Community board chairman David Cooper said he was aware of local frustration at disturbances and damage but wanted to reserve comment on the application until it came before the board.

Any proposal had to go through public consultation.

His board expects a second application soon - for Mairangi Bay town centre and car parks.

Mainstreet co-ordinator Carole McMinn said that by night "nice residential areas" and shoppers' car parks turned into party places.

"Residents told us that after a party by 100 outside the Merc and Retreat, it took eight residents two hours on a Sunday morning to clean up the mess and hose it down.

"It highlighted the need to have a bylaw which can be enforced by the police. They had 44 callouts during October and November."

Ms McMinn said 22 residents of one small street indicated that a liquor ban between 10pm and 7am would be helpful.

Litany of complaints:

* Litter, graffiti and damage to cars, letter boxes and road signs.

* Loud conversation, swearing, car stereos.

* Interrupted sleep.

* Broken bottles on lawns, driveways.

* Lemons and gnomes thrown through doors.

* Skyrockets aimed at homes.

* Jumping over back fences.