The majority of Glitter Strip residents do not feel safe at night, with a new report revealing their biggest fears. It’s sparked calls for more CCTV cameras around the light rail route.
Gold Coast Light Rail Stage 4 fly-through, showing the full route between Tugun and Coolangatta via Gold Coast Airport.
The findings have sparked calls for a state commitment to more CCTV security measures along the rail route.
Gold Coast City Council’s lifestyle committee on Tuesday will consider a safety audit report where surveying of residents found hooning, drugs and the homeless are the biggest concerns.
The City safety audit report including data from a resident survey found:
* 84 per cent of Coast residents feel safe during the day.
* But only 39 per cent said they felt safe at night.
* Top safety concerns were drug use (54 per cent), hooning (39 per cent) and robbery (35 per cent).
* 23 per cent believe a visible police presence increased their feelings of safety.
* At least 70 per cent regarded CCTV as improving their sense of security.
Committee chair Hermann Vorster will push for an upgraded safety response deal with the state government as light rail is rolled out from Broadbeach to Burleigh and eventually to the airport.
His tram commentary has sparked a furious response from state Transport Minister Mark Bailey.
G:link customer service staff at a Gold Coast light rail station.
Cr Vorster told the Bulletin: “Locals worry that the state is transporting public nuisance on public transport, and that could import more crime into southern communities as the light rail snakes south.
“A good move would be for the state to commit to more safety cameras through the light rail
corridor, even into the side streets and village CBDs.”
Cr Vorster criticised the government for “planned concessions for ice and heroine addicts” and the lack of new police recruits to back up hard working officers on the beat.
“Locals are angry, they’re frustrated and they feel under siege in their own homes,” he said.
“The situation has reached breaking point – and the government seems deaf to pleas for urgent and massive reform.”
CCTV cameras being rolled out by the Gold Coast City Council.
Mr Bailey believes Cr Vorster’s remarks are all about boosting his profile to win Michael Hart’s Burleigh seat if the LNP backbencher retires.
He said it was “incredibly dishonest and disrespectful” for Councillor Vorster to link public transport and complex social issues such as homelessness and drug use.
“An extensive CCTV system is operating across the existing light rail network, covering all stations, with cameras also fitted on-board each vehicle,” Mr Bailey said.
“There are also regular security patrols happening across the line from Helensvale to Broadbeach.
Transport Minister Mark Bailey — he believes Cr Hermann Vorster is talking about trams and crime because he wants Michael Hart’s Burleigh seat if the LNP MP retires.
“CCTV will be included in new trams and new stations as part of Light Rail Stage 3 construction, and in partnership with G-Link and QPS, TMR will continue to evaluate the need for additional Network Officer patrols.”
Councillor Hermann Vorster pushing for more information from the State Government on stage four of light rail to the border.
Cr Vorster suggested some suburbs are at risk of permanent reputation damage.
“It’s worrying so many locals do not feel more safe in their own neighbourhoods, especially in the early evenings and at night-time,” he said.
“This could be having an impact on the return on our investment in parks, and be hammering
small businesses that depend on foot traffic.
“The results (of the audit) mirror what I’m hearing on the ground – with so many locals pushing for more cameras, better lighting and more safety audits to boost passive surveillance.
“Even business owners are now speaking up willing to financially contribute to better public
lighting so their staff are at ease.”
“It’s definitely something that demands more attention, including in areas like Burleigh where
anti-social behaviour near licensed venues risks permanent reputation damage.”
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