Date: 7/4/07
Author: 
Source: Post Newspapers, Western Australia

Security patrols and closed circuit cameras are on the cards after a five-week vandalism spree at the $2 million revamped Swanbourne foreshore.

Surf lifesaving club president Tim Tucak said: "It has become too popular."

He catalogued a litany of incidents, including shattered glass in grass, broken beer bottles on paved areas and graffiti on the surf club.

He told the Safer Nedlands committee that chains and bollards had been uprooted and a driver had done some "circle work" on the oval.

Six surf life savers spent half an hour cleaning up one Saturday in February before they could start their patrol work on the beach, Tim told the committee.

He said: "People are not the problem. It is when they start drinking and graffitiing the surf club and breaking bottles."

Jane Day, the Nedlands council's corporate services manager, said for $65 a week the council could have nine security patrols from Friday to Sunday.

"Wilson Security already locks and unlocks the toilets," she told the committee.

"They could do security patrols on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, from 10pm to 5am.

"Three random patrols a night would cost us an additional $65 a week."

Ms Day told the committee she would be suggesting councillors include the cost in the next budget.

She had also investigated the basic costs of CCTV cameras, she said.

Cottesloe police sergeant Scott Halvorsen suggested the council talk to Cottesloe council, which was also considering CCTV on the beachfront, he said.

He asked the council not to sanction functions with alcohol on the foreshore.

"It is inappropriate when we have been trying to stop drinking down there, for the council to approve functions with liquor," he said.

"We have moved on 25 or 30 people, all from the western suburbs. They were not aware they could not bring alcohol down there."

He asked the council to put up signs reminding people street drinking was an offence.

Ms Day said the council had complaints from nearby residents when it put up signs.

"The signs mysteriously disappeared," she said.

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