Youths are taking selfies to new heights.
THE new craze of “rooftopping” and taking outrageous selfies on highrise balconies will be the biggest safety fears at this year’s Schoolies, with building managers and police to crack down on dangerous stunts.
Strata Community Australia, the peak body representing body corporates and managers, has issued an alert to Coast high rise managers on the eve of the annual Year 12 celebrations, calling for a zero tolerance policy on dangerous stunts.
Managers are being advised to secure rooftops and tell schoolies they will be evicted if caught on top of Surfers Paradise and Broadbeach high rises, as 30,000 students prepare to party on Saturday night.
“It’s the emergence of new crazes like rooftopping that are posing the biggest threat to safety in strata communities, as revellers go to the extreme and often dangerous lengths to get the best photographs,” SCA chief Kim Henshaw told the Gold Coast Bulletin.
Another Schoolie risks his life on the Gold Coast as he jumps from one balcony to another on the fifth floor of a Surfers Paradise hotel. Picture: Marc Robertson.Source:News Limited
Rooftopping or skywalking took off on the Coast late last year and the danger of the Spiderman-style stunts was highlighted six months ago by the death of a French man who plunged from Brisbane 1 William Street construction site.
Despite the tragedy, the trend has continued with police using Facebook photographs as evidence when they last month charged 23-year-old Scott Davis-Ingram after he allegedly climbed the QI supertower, Mantra Crown Towers and Avalon apartments.
Teens put lives at risk for a selfie.Source:Facebook
While SCA is encouraging managers to “set the tone early” on acceptable behaviour, the Gold Coast Bulletin has learned security and police may have a huge challenge on their hands this year with some Coast buildings preparing to have fewer staff.
“We are having less security due to body corporate budget cutbacks,” a frustrated manager at one high rise tower said.
SCA admits it is concerned some buildings are not doing enough to make sure their rooftops are no-go zones for adventurous partygoers.
“While the majority of buildings are now using swipe card systems to prevent strangers from accessing their rooftop, there are still some that don’t,” Mr Henshaw said.
“We recommend those owners and managers consider allowing for it in their budget to ensure a safer community.
“Strata communities have a responsibility to ensure rooftops are locked off and are only accessible to authorised personnel.”
Beachcomber Resort manager Greg Kafritsas said his staff would be cautioning schoolies before they arrived about taking extreme selfies.
“We have our rooftop locked. You can’t get to the roof,” Mr Kafritsas said.
“This year we will be asking them to be careful when taking selfies on the balconies.
“When they arrive we will give them all a talk and directions.
Schoolies on the Gold Coast. Picture: Marc Robertson.Source:The Courier-Mail
“We’ve got about 300 schoolies arriving.
“Any misbehaviour on the balconies – there’s a zero tolerance policy there – and they will be evicted.”
Assistant Commissioner Brian Codd said police on the street would looking skyward ready to move quickly and prevent a tragedy.
“We’re aware of some fairly dangerous practices that young people have been involved in,” he said.
“We will be sending a strong message to them to avoid risky behaviour.
“Our message will be have a good time but look after each other. Don’t attempt anything risky.
“Wherever we see that behaviour we will be intervening quickly.”
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