By LAURA WAKELY
WHEN Sydenham resident Ryan Buhagiar began preparing for his 21st birthday, his first priority was to find a local venue.
Not wanting to fork out the hundreds of dollars usually required for a private venue, Ryan tried to book a Brimbank Council hall, only to discover parties being held for those aged between 16 and 21 were banned from the council’s booking list.
“I found it really surprising,” Ryan said.
“We’ve been paying their rates and fees forever. Where else can we go?”
Brimbank Council’s Acting General Manager of Community Wellbeing John MacDonagh said the policy wasn’t about age but the nature of the function, as younger people’s birthday parties, bucks and hens nights and gambling nights had “caused problems over the years”.
“Unfortunately there have been occasions where facilities have been left in such poor state or have been vandalised such that community groups booking them have not been able to utilise them as they should,” Mr MacDonagh said.
“Council does not accept bookings for these events so it can continue to provide facilities to the general community.
“Council also believes it has a responsibility to residents living near these facilities to minimise the disruption through parking problems and anti-social behaviour that may spill out to residential streets.”
He said council was reviewing the policies for halls and meeting places including the hiring policy, fees structure and practice, which is expected to be completed by August this year.
Ryan welcomed the review but said it wasn’t fair to assume all young people’s events would result in anti-social behaviour.
He said the policy showed “how little faith” the council has in local youth.
“Not all of us are young people with disregard and criminal tendancies,” he said.
But Mr MacDonagh said council was supporting young residents through driving, employment, dance, fashion, music and public speaking programs.
