The second weekend of schoolies celebrations has left businesses with damage bills and local footy club volunteers with a massive clean-up.
Police were unable to provide details of the weekend’s incidents but confirmed two people had been arrested in relation to an assault.
Residents said there were large crowds and fights breaking out around the Jetty Triangle and foreshore in Cowes, while others complained of parties along the main street.
One described the Cowes beach as “trashed” with broken glass, rubbish and bottles everywhere.
Council’s outdoor crew was out early on Sunday morning cleaning debris from the Jetty Triangle, The Esplanade and along the main street of Cowes.
Businesses reported nightly property damage.
A local business owner said while they appreciated Covid made it hard for the council to organise activities for the schoolies this year, something needed to be done to address the issues.
“If the kids had a planned event or somewhere they could go and have a planned party, it would take all the riff-raff away from Cowes.
“They’re entitled to have a good time and if they had somewhere to go and do something, it might be more enjoyable for everyone. We need tourists and people to come. What we don’t need is drunken people on the streets destroying property.”
One business estimated damages of over $2000.
“After the year we’ve had, it’s not what you need. Every day we woke up and there was damage.
“Our blinds were ripped, gates broken, tables and chairs thrown away. The damage that’s been caused to us, it’s not on. Who pays for that?”
President of the Phillip Island Football Netball Club, Chris Ross, said there was significant damage at the Cowes Recreation Reserve when a car got onto the footy oval.
Sponsor signs were kicked in, furniture moved and the concrete outside the clubhouse was covered in smashed bottles.
“They left a hell of a mess,” he said.
“Three club members had to come down on Sunday and clean up the glass and repair the signs. It took a couple of hours. There’s better things to do on Sunday than having to clean up after schoolies.”
This week, council’s outdoor maintenance team worked on the oval to repair the damage to the playing field.
Covid impact
A council spokesperson said due to Covid restrictions, it was initially unclear whether schoolies would even go ahead, so efforts were concentrated on “harm minimisation strategies”.
They said the Cowes Jetty Triangle area was supervised by Red Frogs volunteers between December 4 and 11.
In addition, DanceWize personnel were on hand with “particular expertise in managing alcohol and drug-related matters for school leavers”.
Both Red Frogs and DanceWize are part of the statewide Good Times Great Breaks program designed to help schoolies have a good time and stay safe.
Additional police have been rostered on for the entire schoolies period.
The TAC Vanessa Outreach program had been engaged by the council, to “deliver alcohol and drug harm minimisation services”, the council spokesperson confirmed.
Security, lighting, buses and marquees were also organised for the Cowes foreshore area and additional outdoor crews had been rostered on to help clean the streets during the schoolies period.
