Furious neighbours unleash on backpacking revellers ignoring COVID-19 rules
Backpackers in a Bondi unit block continue to ignore social distancing rules put in place by COVID-19 by holding house parties just days after they were filmed drinking in their backyard until the early morning by angry neighbours.
Australia is currently in stage three lockdown, which means that people are unable to leave their homes unless it is necessary (going to work or school, buying essentials, seeking medical care or exercising).
Indoor and outdoor gatherings have been restricted to two people as part of further efforts to stop the spread of coronavirus, which is why neighbours are furious at the parties being held by the backpackers.
The video of more than a dozen partygoers crammed into a backyard at the block of flats outraged many who are abiding by strict social distancing orders.
The two neighbouring buildings are separated by only a few metres, which means sound travels easily.
In footage taken just before 3pm, residents were heard yelling at their neighbours asking them to turn down their music.
One neighbour confided in The Daily Mail that things haven’t gotten any better between the neighbours.
“The photos that were shared last week, that was of a calm party, but it's gotten a lot of attention because everyone is trying to do the right thing at the minute,” she said.
“I've lived here for about 11 years now and over the past 18 months it's just gotten way worse.”
“I yelled out at them today because they were blasting music, but it doesn't do much at all most of the time, they'll be back partying in a few days.”
The woman wishes to remain anonymous and says she calls police at least once a week about the neighbours.
“It's worse at the minute because people are working from home and I know one girl said she was in a work meeting and was asked: ‘What's all that noise?’”
However, one resident of the party block argues that the group are being vilified unfairly.
“I think that (last week's party) was blown out of proportion. What you'll actually find is these places are really big and hold eight people each, so it seems like there's a lot of people partying but they're all residents,” she said.
“It's not like there were people coming from all over Bondi, it was just a mix of people in the apartments.
“There are signs up about noise but that's from New Year's Eve. I mean there can be a lot of noise, but I think it's not as bad as it's made out to be.”