‘Why do I pay for the use of Nambour Parks if I feel unsafe?’

File photo

Broken glass renews park safety concerns in Nambour

Concerns about safety in Nambour’s parks have resurfaced after a local resident said broken glass on walking paths has made it unsafe to walk her dogs. This prompted similar complaints from other residents.

The issue was raised this week in the Living in Nambour private Facebook group after a resident, Lynda, said she had found and cleaned up broken wine bottles along paths at the dog park and at Quota Parks.

“I am so disappointed to find broken glass all over the paths of Dog and Quota Parks,” Lynda wrote. “I have cleaned up broken wine bottles all over the paths where we and our dogs walk.  

“I have sent an email to Council but I don’t have faith for a resolution. I spoke to one who lives in the park and only got abused. I have received my Rates Notice. Why on earth do I pay for the use of Nambour Parks if I feel unsafe?”

She said she had contacted council but had little confidence the problem would be resolved. She said she was verbally abused after speaking to someone living in the park.

“I have received my rates notice. Why on earth do I pay for the use of Nambour parks if I feel unsafe?” she said, urging residents to attend a community discussion at The Presynct on  Wednesday January 28.

Other residents echoed her concerns. Jamie said he had stopped walking his dog in the area, while Liz said she no longer walks there at all.  Guy said he had given up walking altogether, opting for the gym instead. “I don’t want to be on edge while walking past people that are crazy on drugs or drunk,” he said.

Juanita questioned ongoing spending on park upgrades, saying people no longer used them because they felt unsafe. Melanie said she and her husband wanted to attend the meeting to voice concerns about “the addicts that are taking over our parks and town”.

Not all comments focused solely on enforcement. Helli asked what solutions existed for people unable to find housing, while Naomi said addiction and lack of rehabilitation services were central to the issue.

Kerry added weight to the concerns by posting a photo of broken glass on a dog park walkway, saying the glass was “not easy to see because of grey concrete”, and reported counting nine shopping trolleys around the dog park.

The incidents add to the list of safety concerns raised by residents about Nambour’s parks and playgrounds including incidents of verbal abuse, drug and alcohol consumption, discarded needles in and around playgrounds, aggressive behaviour, vandalism, shopping trolleys and rubbish left behind and families avoiding parks altogether because they no longer felt safe.

Mackay acts on camps as local debate continues

A north Queensland council has moved to clear homeless camps from its CBD riverfront, as debate continues on the Sunshine Coast over how to respond to similar issues in Nambour.

According to the ABC, dozens of people experiencing homelessness in Mackay were last week issued move-on notices, giving them 24 hours to leave camps along River Street and the banks of the Pioneer River. The action followed outreach by a multi-agency Antisocial Behaviour (Public Spaces) Response Group, which had offered housing, health and addiction support to people sleeping rough.

Mackay Regional Council chief executive officer Gerard Carlyon told the ABC the riverfront was also being targeted for an “extensive clean-up”, including the removal of tents from mangroves and abandoned boats being used as accommodation. “We’re issuing notices to people to make it very clear that you are not allowed to camp in our public spaces along the riverfront,” Mr Carlyon said, according to the ABC. “The expectation is they get 24 hours to move.”

He said police would return daily to enforce the notices, describing the response as an ongoing operation. Mackay Mayor Greg Williamson told the ABC the council had already helped move some people into temporary accommodation, but said those remaining had declined available support. 

A meeting regarding safety and homelessness will be held tonight January 28 at 6.30pm at The Presynct. Register: https://events.humanitix.com/community-meeting-nambour