Schoolies hell leads to call for crackdown

Alex de Vos
Residents want authorities to get tough on schoolies after two weeks of “destructive” behaviour on the Surf Coast.
Torquay resident Chris Oliver said he was “fed up” with revellers partying every night and littering footpaths around his Darian Road home with broken bottles.
“They’ve given us hell over the last two weeks,” Mr Oliver said.
“My son gets up early for work and has found it difficult to sleep with all the noise and shouting.
“We wish they wouldn’t come here – they are a detriment to the town and we’ve had enough.”
Mr Oliver said he would meet other ratepayers and Surf Coast councillors to discuss changing regulation of Schoolies Week.
“I’m sure they’re decent kids but with no supervision they tend to go crazy and something more needs to be done,” he said.
Surf Coast Community and Ratepayers Association president Spencer Leighton backed the call for harsher penalties against school leavers who “misbehaved”.
“I don’t think we can stop Schoolies Week but we need to stop the vandalism,” Mr Leighton said.
“It’s mayhem down here during those two weeks. The kids go on a rampage – vandalise signs and break glass. I wonder how much it costs ratepayers?
“There needs to be more pressure on liquor outlets and schoolies kids – someone has to pay for the damage.”
Torquay Country Fire Authority’s John Monagle pointed the finger at a “disrespectful” element among the schoolies.
“We received seven or eight calls to put out fires during Schoolies Week and one night we received four,” Mr Monagle said.
“For a volunteer brigade it’s pushing our resources.”
Mr Monagle backed tougher penalties.
“Something needs to be done but the problem is how would the laws be enforced.”
Torquay police reported a “relatively” quiet start to schoolies celebrations two weeks ago despite illegal campfires and minor vandalism.
Torquay Senior Sergeant Brian McKiterick said at the start of celebrations police had issued schoolies with a “small amount” of fines and cracked down on a few of their noisy parties.
Snr Sgt McKiterick said the school leavers were “relatively well behaved”.
“Some small fires were lit near Cosy Corner and we had a few minor instances of willful damage,” Seg McKiterick said.
“But, generally, the behaviour has been quite good.”