Bayside Council will investigate the feasibility of installing gates at Vanston Parade, Sandringham on the foreshore of Botany Bay following increased reports of antisocial behaviour including late night drinking and reckless driving.
Councillor James Macdonald submitted a Notice of Motion at last night's Bayside Council meeting calling for a report on the problems at Vanston Parade.
"I have received representations from residents regarding increased instances of antisocial behaviour in Vanston Parade," he said.
"Residents are very concerned, so much so that some have installed CCTV cameras to capture evidence of antisocial behaviour including late night drinking and reckless driving.
"Council needs to work closely with the State Government, NSW Police and other agencies to address this issue and protect the amenity of the residents."
Cr Macdonald said the council report should investigate the feasibility of closing the road between 9pm and 5am every day, similar to other council foreshore car parks.
The report should look at the level of resident and police support for the exclusion of overnight access of cars to the street, check the cost of installation of gates and the ongoing operations of the gate closure, and the likely impact it will have on reported incidents of anti-social behaviour in Vanston Parade.
The report should also look at the likelihood that the closure of Vanston Parade will lead to further requests for other road closures in Bayside.
"If we put these gates in Vanston Parade it is probably going to move the problem elsewhere so we need to look at how this will affect our community as well," Cr Macdonald said.
"In the last six months we are getting a lot of footage because some residents have installed cameras themselves and are supplying footage to council and the police.
"I understand it is a policing matter but if the police don't sort it out we as a council have to look if we can assist in some way, whether it is putting in gates or coming up with another solution."
Councillor Andrew Tsounis said he was happy to look at the merits of a report but installing gates raised a number of issues.
"It is a policing issue. There's the issue if we put up gates does that mean the police don't have to go? There's the issue if there is a fire who opens the gate to get in, or the rubbish truck.
"It's not a car park, it's a residential street. We need to explore that in the report."
Mayor Bill Saravinovski said he had the same problem in his street.
He said a possible solution could be introducing No Stopping between 9pm and 5am as they do on Little Grand Parade.
"I sympathise with the residents but they don't own the street," he said.
"I'll be guided by what the police say on the actual reported incidents on the street. If we close off this street it's going to be called millionaire's paradise. All we are going to do is move the problem into another street.
"I don't want the council to be locked into putting up gates for half a dozen people."
