In their continued fight against anti-social behaviour, Cardiff residents and businesses are campaigning to establish an alcohol-free reserve across the suburb.

The Cardiff community has identified a group of youth and under-age drinkers as the main offenders in the spate of vandalism and graffiti that has plagued the area for the past two years and it has taken action to stop the anti-social behaviour.

The North Lakes Chamber of Commerce, residents and local police have requested that Lake Macquarie City Council establish an alcohol-free reserve to help combat the problem.

Initially the alcohol ban would be between 9pm and 9am in the area from the corner of Macquarie and Myall roads that covers the sporting ovals, tennis courts, Wilkinson Park and the skate park.

The reserve would still allow for the consumption of alcohol between 9am and 9pm at licensed sporting events.

Plans for the reserve were on exhibition at Lake Macquarie City Council until December 16.

After all public submissions are considered, councillors will vote whether to apply the alcohol restrictions.

Chamber president Rob Denton said another application would then be made to council to have the alcohol restrictions applied through-out the Cardiff CBD.

Mr Denton said the chamber had the support of many residents and had already implemented strategies to stop the vandalism and graffiti.

“We identified who was supplying the kids with alcohol and their supply has now been cut off,” Mr Denton said.

He said the problem had started with a group of teenagers drinking in hidden areas of Wilkinson Park and the skate park and had spread across the CBD.

He said with the help of the council, there was now better surveillance of the area.

“Some of the kids are getting the message that we don’t want the anti-social behaviour,” he said.

“They are starting to realise that they will get caught.”

A police spokesman said an alcohol-free reserve gave police power to confiscate alcohol and issue fines.

Other areas in Lake Macquarie with similar restrictions are the Molly Smith Netball Courts at Belmont, Blacksmiths Beach Reserve and Kevin Evans Oval at Holmesville.