Residents of a glitzy seaside suburb in Sydney’s northern beaches say they are battling drunken “yobbos” invading their quiet Cove community.
Brendon Lansdowne and Elizabeth Malwood have lived in Manly for 17 years but say they have never witnessed such excessive drunken behavior.
The two men reported as many as 30 cases of illegal urination, even on their doorstep, in one night, as part of their unofficial “pee patrol.”
Despite providing photos of the culprits to police, the two men told the Today Show on Tuesday that little had been done to stop them.
“The cops there are some of the best in the world. Why don’t they arrest these people and charge them,” they said.
“The attitude these people have when they’re approached about their actually illegal behavior…it’s a sense of entitlement.”
Residents are fed up with people urinating outside houses opposite East Esplanade Park in Manly Cove, Manly
The couple resides across the street from what is known locally as “The Office”, or East Esplanade Park, a popular party spot during the warmer months of the year.
To prevent “disorderly behavior”, the Northern Beaches Council introduced an 8pm curfew on drinking in the park in 2022.
An additional public toilet block was also installed, partly due to illegal urination, joining another already located on the quay.
But despite the changes, Mr Lansdowne and Ms Malwood said more needed to be done, including an earlier 6pm 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 two men explained.
“I mean, we have them urinating in front of our door… some of them are literally in front of people’s front doors.”
In a statement to the Daily Telegraph regarding behavior in the park, the Northern Beaches Council said its rangers were working in conjunction with the police.
“Police and rangers are monitoring the area for anti-social behavior, with rangers reporting any incidents to police,” the statement said.
“Police respond to anti-social and criminal behavior, including issuing penalty notices for urinating in public.”
The local council has installed more toilet blocks and restricted alcohol from 8pm to 8am.