Project objective
At the 29 April 2025 meeting, Council received a petition from 65 signatories seeking Council to implement a range of measures to stop alcohol and parties at Holloway Beach.
Concerns raised included the beach being known (to some community members) as a summer venue for rave parties (involving substantial quantities of alcohol, illicit drugs, generators, and amplified music), resulting in broken glass, sharp instruments, and refuse left on the beach and surrounding areas, posing an active risk for beach users and surrounding residents.
Current Local Law provisions apply, including the requirement for event permits within municipal reserves and foreshore areas; prohibited to use of sound equipment that may interfere with others (other than as part of an approved permitted use); and no alcohol consumption in any municipal reserve between sunset and sunrise.
As carried at the May 20 2025 meeting, and in line with Section 58 of the Local Laws Guidelines, we’re commencing the process to make Holloway Beach, Brighton, a place where a person must not consume any liquor or have in their possession or control any liquor other than in a container with an unbroken seal at any time on any day pursuant to Council’s Neighbourhood Amenity Local Law 2021 (the Local Law).
Between 3 June and July 1 2025, we’re engaging with the community to understand the sentiment about the proposed Local Law amendment to ban alcohol consumption and alcohol possession in unsealed containers, at all times on Holloway Beach.
Project impacts
The issue of raves and large parties that do not have a permit has been raised with Victoria Police since early Summer 2024, and that dialogue has continued over the 2024/25 summer period.
The immediate feedback from Victoria Police is that this location has not been a historically significant area of concern for them and as such they would not advocate for any change to Local Laws based on information at hand.
The amendment of the local law will ban alcohol consumption and alcohol possession in unsealed containers, at any time, and on any day, at Holloway Beach.
The safe access and use of open space such as beaches along the foreshore enhances the health and wellbeing of our community and creates places to create social connection.
Unregulated parties and antisocial behaviour can impact the enjoyment of the area for other users, cause damage to Council assets, and can adversely impact the sensitive the foreshore environment.
What information do we need from the community?
The 4-week community engagement program will gather feedback through an online survey.
The consultation will seek feedback on community sentiment about the proposal to ban alcohol
consumption and possession in unsealed containers at Holloway Beach.
Community feedback on the proposed alcohol ban on Holloway Beach will help Council Officers to make a
recommendation to present to Council for endorsement.
What can the community influence?
- Council’s understanding of community sentiment about this proposal
What can’t the community influence?
- All Victoria Police laws
- All other Bayside City Council Local Laws
- The key evidence-based research, and relevant government and comparative municipality initiatives reviewed by Council to help inform the decision
Stakeholders and community
This stakeholder assessment is a generalised understanding of sections of the community that have a connection to the project or matter. This information is used to understand the types of tools and techniques that will achieve the strongest and most effective outcomes for engagement and communication.
Impact: What level of change the stakeholder / community segment may experience as a result of the project / matter
Interest: What level of interest has been expressed or is anticipated
Influence: Reference to the IAP2 Spectrum
Stakeholder / community | Impact | Interest | Influence |
| Bayside residents | M | M | Consult |
| Individuals with broad interests in beaches, foreshore and the bay, and decisions of Council | L | M | Consult |
| Bathing Boxes owners | M | M | Consult |
| 1/14th Brighton Sea Scouts/ Holloway Bend Scout Group | M | M | Consult |
| Bayside Traders Associations | L | L | Consult |
| Bayside Tourism Association | L | L | Consult |
| Brighton LSC | M | M | Consult |
Selected tools and techniques
The tools and techniques selected for this project are informed by the project content, stakeholders and type of feedback sought.
Key tools for communicating the project
- Project page on Have Your Say engagement platform,
- Direct e-mail to stakeholders
- Direct email to relevant Have Your Say members
- Onsite signage promoting the consultation
- Council website news
- Council’s weekly e-news: This Week in Bayside
- Social media
Key methods for gathering feedback
- Online survey hosted on Have Your Say project page
- Email, post, or phone submissions
- Opportunity to book a meeting with a Council Officer
- Printed survey, as required.
Project timelines
| Community engagement proposed Holloway Beach alcohol ban | Active | 3 June – 1 July 2025 |
| Collate and consider feedback and draft revisions | Incomplete | June - August 2025 |
| Council decision (anticipated) | Incomplete | 16 September 2025 |
| Implementation of local law (if endorsed) | Incomplete | Ongoing |
Decision-making process
We’ll engage the community in a 4-week campaign to gather feedback to understand community sentiment about the proposed Local Law amendment to ban alcohol consumption and possession in unsealed containers, at any time, and on any day at Holloway Beach.
Council will consider community and stakeholder feedback, key evidence-based research, and relevant government and comparative municipality initiatives to help inform the decision about the proposal.
It is expected that Council will decide on the proposed alcohol ban on Holloway Beach at the September 2025 meeting.
Meeting agendas are published one week prior to scheduled meetings. Interested community members can make a submission or request to speak at a meeting in relation to this project.
Please select the +Subscribe button at the top of the page to receive updates about this project, including when it will be considered by Council and any further opportunities to participate in this project.
More information
Jarrod Slattery
Local Laws and Parking Coordinator
03 9599 4641
jSlattery@bayside.vic.gov.au
