Residents of a stunning coastal suburb on Sydney’s northern beaches have said they are fighting back against drunken ‘yobbos’ taking over their quiet cove community.
Brendon Lansdowne and Elizabeth Malwood have lived in Manly for 17 years but say they have never seen such excessive drunken behaviour.
The couple reported a whopping 30 cases of illegal urination, including at their front door, in one night as part of their unofficial “pee patrol.”
Despite providing photographs of the culprits to police, the couple told the Today Show on Tuesday that little had been done to stop them.
The police officers there are among the best in the world. ‘Why don’t they catch these people and charge them?’ they said.
“The attitude of these people when you ask them about their really illegal behavior… it’s a sense of entitlement.”
Locals are fed up with people urinating outside houses opposite East Esplanade Park in Manly Cove, Manly
The couple resides opposite what is known locally as “The Office”, or East Esplanade Park, a popular party spot during the warmer months of the year.
To avoid “disturbances of public order”, the Northern Beaches Council introduced an 8:00 p.m. curfew in 2022 for the consumption of alcohol in the park.
An additional public toilet block was also installed, partly due to illegal urination, joining another already located on the dock.
But despite the changes, Lansdowne and Malwood said more needed to be done, including an earlier 6pm alcohol curfew.
Brendon Lansdowne and Elizabeth Malwood have lived in Manly for 17 years.
“Because they are so drunk, they stagger to find the nearest tree, bush or door,” the couple said.
“I mean, we have them urinating on our doorstep… some of them are literally on people’s front doors.”
In a statement to the Daily Telegraph regarding behavior in the park, the Northern Beaches Council said its rangers worked collaboratively with the police.
“Police and rangers monitor the area for anti-social behaviour, and rangers refer any incidents to police,” the statement said.
“Police respond to anti-social and criminal behaviour, including issuing penalty notices for urinating in public.”
The city council installed more toilet blocks and restricted alcohol consumption from 8:00 p.m. to 8:00 a.m.
