Council considers extending alcohol free zone
Northern Beaches Council is proposing to extend the boundary of the existing alcohol free zone in Narrabeen to include Wellington Street car park, following community concerns.
Currently, the Narrabeen Alcohol Free Zone (AFZ) extends along Pittwater Road between Ocean Street to the south and the bridge over Narrabeen Lake.
However, Council will consider a proposed amendment to the boundary after community consultation in 2021 where it received feedback from the community requesting to extend the boundary.
“I support the AFZ in principle but would like to see it extended from the bridge north along the lakeside encompassing the Council car park as far as Albemarle Street,” one resident wrote in a submission.
“This area, particularly in front of Woolworths, is a major meeting place for a group of regulars who gather there every day drinking.”
“I don’t agree with alcohol being consumed in any public spaces, especially where there are children about,” another submission added.
These requests were considered by Council staff and police and assessed against the criteria in the ministerial guidelines before the extension was proposed.
Despite many submissions in favour of the AFZ, several people also said there ‘is no need’, arguing ‘there should not be an alcohol free zone in Collaroy or Narrabeen’.
Northern Beaches Mayor, Michael Regan, said that the AFZs can help prevent issues and police any problems that do take place in restricted areas.
“The reason we have some of these Alcohol Free Zones is because in times gone past there were issues and it just gives the law enforcement the opportunity to police it,” Mayor Regan explained.
At the time of writing, the proposal to extend the AFZ boundary was yet to be confirmed.
Council has also proposed amendments to the boundaries of existing AFZs in Belrose and Freshwater.