My Account
Police and the local board are claiming a victory after temporary liquor bans and other measures prevented public Crate Day gatherings on the Coast on December 2 and 3.
However, as Hibiscus Matters goes to print, there are suggestions on social media that Crate Day could have been merely postponed, with numbers of people suggesting a gathering at Manly Beach on December 9.
Crate Day, largely organised on social media, sees large numbers drinking alcohol on “the first weekend of summer”. In the past, the gatherings were held in Manly and Stanmore Bay on beach reserves and resulted in fighting, burglary and other anti-social behaviour as well as requiring a massive cleanup at ratepayers’ cost.
This year police obtained the support of the Hibiscus & Bays Local Board for a wide, temporary liquor ban on public beaches and reserves, on December 2 and 3, in an attempt to prevent Crate Day. Ratepayers footed the $3500 bill for signs to advise of the temporary ban.
Rodney area prevention manager, Senior Sergeant Jason Homan, says police were not called to any alcohol related incidents and did not have people trying to set up parties at local beaches.
Large numbers of police were on duty and keeping a close eye on beaches. “Police received very positive feedback about how visible we were,” Snr Sgt Homan says.
He says there were some Crate Day parties going on at residential houses, which were responsible and respected neighbours.
However, it remains to be seen whether or not this was a successful attempt to prevent a public Crate Day on the Coast.
