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Reservoir Park Ambush: Mosman teen brutally attacked with knife and a brick by masked men.

Published On: May 3, 2023

A 16-year-old boy is recovering after being bashed with a brick at Reservoir Park in Mosman. Image: Graham Monro.

By ANNA USHER

Police are appealing for witnesses to come forward after a 16-year-old boy was brutally attacked in Mosman last Thursday.

The local school student was walking through Reservoir Park, Brady St around 6:30 pm when three black-clad males armed with a brick, and a knife ambushed the teen.

The victim, who suffered deep lacerations to his head and hand, was taken to hospital as Detectives launched an extensive search for the brazen offenders.

Hotel Mosman Manager Scott Williams said he rushed to the scene after being alerted to the horrifying incident by a customer.

Detectives have launched an investigation into the brutal attack and will be patrolling Reservoir Park after school hours.

“I was told a kid had been hit in the head with a brick, so I grabbed ice and some towels to do whatever I could,” Mr Williams said.

“The boy was in some distress and was bleeding from a deep gash to his head.

“Four girls – aged about 16 – were nearby, and one of them called the boy’s father, who rushed to the scene.”

Locals enjoying lunch at Reservoir Park this week, but local teens have turned it into a “Clubhouse” after school hours, say residents.

Mr Williams said the brutal bashing did not come as a surprise, with scores of under-age drinkers gathering in Reservoir Park regularly.

“It has become a meeting place for kids to loiter after school hours and get up to no good,” Mr Williams said.

“They kick things, smash glasses, and leave rubbish everywhere.

“If you walk through the park, you’ll nearly always find Nangs (nitrous oxide bulbs) strewn around.

“Many of our regular customers use Reservoir Park as an access point to the Bridlewood Gardens complex on Brady St – but they don’t feel safe walking that way home anymore.

“Something needs to be done.”

Mosman Collective photographer Graham Monro found scores of discarded Nangs, beer bottles and tiny plastic bags at Reservoir Park this week.

The brawl is the latest anti-social incident in the secluded park, which is located behind Boronia House.

Last December, Mosman Collective reported the sickening attack on a baby Brush Turkey that was found strung up with a broken neck, alongside other evidence of a Christmas Party that had taken a dark turn.

Angry Bridlewood Gardens residents, many of them elderly, have told Mosman Collective they are frightened to use the park as a thoroughfare to their Brady St homes.

“There is a back gate entrance to Bridlewood Gardens that residents no longer access because of intimidation by loitering teenagers in the evenings,” one local, who did not wish to be identified, said.

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“Drugs, disorderly behaviour, and underage drinking happen at Reservoir Park regularly, and it [the park] has become a Mosman eyesore.

“Even though the gates are closed by Council Rangers, kids just climb over the top to access the grounds.

“This has been an ongoing problem for years and we are fed up with the unruly behaviour.”

Brady St residents say they are frightened to use the lane way and gate access to Bridlewood Gardens after dark. Image: Graham Monro.

A letter dated 8 March from Bridlewood Gardens strata committee says Mosman Council is “constantly repairing damaged items at ratepayers’ expense”, with police turning up to Reservoir Park weekly to disperse misbehaving teens.

“Over many years, there have been many disturbing incidents in the park of vandalism, drug taking, underage drinking and hooliganism,” the letter to Bridlewood residents reads.

“This behaviour can start at 3 pm and go late into the night as often the park is not locked as it should be at 8 pm.

“The culprits are usually local teenagers who have turned the park into a sort of Clubhouse.”

Locals are fed up with “vandalism, drug taking, underage drinking and hooliganism” at Reservoir Park.

Another Bridlewood Gardens resident is calling for the removal of the Rotunda.

“Unless it is Heritage listed, the whole thing should be demolished,” the resident told Mosman Collective.

“It is the only way to deter these kids.

“The whole area is filthy and littered with cigarette butts, bottles and fast-food wrappers.

“Nobody feels safe using the park, especially our elderly residents trying to get access to their properties.”

A Mosman Council spokesperson has confirmed the park gates are closed between 7.30 pm and 9pm daily.  “

Council recently upgraded security at the location to include several patrols by private security each night,” the spokesperson said.

*North Shore Detectives have launched an investigation into the Reservoir Park bashing. They are appealing to anyone that may have witnessed the attack or noticed any unusual activity to please contact North Shore Police on 9414 8499 or Crime Stoppers (1800 333 000 or the website).