Drink ban served

THE Belgrave Terrace Park has been added to the list of prohibited places for people to consume alcohol.
This comes as the Shire of Yarra Ranges last week adopted a new local law for the consumption of alcohol in public places.
The Belgrave Terrace Park, which is located on the corner of Terry’s Avenue and Monbulk Road, was added to the list of prohibited places after the council received a letter from the Belgrave Traders Association calling for the listing. The council adopted the existing law in 1997 in an effort to curb inappropriate behaviour such as drinking in public places.
It prohibits the consumption of alcohol or the possession of an open container of liquor in public places.
A number of commercial areas across the shire have been outlined in the law as prohibited places for the consumption of alcohol.
The new law which takes affect in May outlines a number of areas in the hills where drinking in public is illegal such as Upwey Village, and commercial areas in Belgrave, Tecoma, Olinda, Monbulk Mt Dandenong and Mt Evelyn.
Under the new law the penalty for drinking in a prohibited public place will be increased from $100 to $200 for a first offence.
Anyone wanting to find out more about the new law should contact the shire’s community link offices in Monbulk or Upwey.