Boozing backpackers who trashed Melbourne's St Kilda foreshore with 29 tonnes of rubbish at Christmas have forced an extended alcohol ban at the beach.
About 5000 revellers, many whom the Port Phillip Council say appeared to be visitors and backpackers, dumped rubbish including broken glass at South Beach Reserve, when partying late into Christmas night.
An alcohol ban for St Kilda beaches due to end on January 5 was on Friday extended until February 15.
"The decision to extend the foreshore ban, which was due to end on January 5, has not been taken lightly as there is no simple solution," Mayor Bernadene Voss said in a statement.
"We will be looking at factors such as volumes of broken glass and feedback from groups including residents, visitors, traders and police to help us decide whether an alcohol ban is useful."
Four garbage trucks were needed to cart away the rubbish left by the Christmas gathering - the equivalent of more than 3000 homes' weekly rubbish.
Broken glass was still being found at the beach on Thursday.
The initial clean up cost was estimated at $18,000.
Ms Voss said she understood residents would be inconvenienced by the actions of visitors.
"We have tried to strike a balance and our residents will still be able to visit and enjoy a drink on other Port Phillip beaches during the trial extended ban," she said.
Alcohol will be banned council-wide on Australia Day, January 26, and the following day because of Triple J rescheduling its Hottest 100 countdown.
Councillors will decide at their February 7 meeting whether to extend the ban from Marina Reserve to West Beach until the end of the summer.
