MP says council needs to take lead on playground & park safety

Nicklin MP Marty Hunt says Council is responsible for managing their parks.  “I have met with Council representatives now on several occasions and expressed my views around how they could handle this issue particularly in our kids’ playgrounds and near schools.”

Q&A  with Nicklin MP Marty Hunt

Q: There appear to be less tents around the Nambour CBD. Can this be explained by any recent targeted action by the State? 

A: Community safety is my top priority and I’m doing everything I can at a State level to ensure Nambour is a safe place.  I meet regularly with local police and they have undertaken operations in the CBD recently to enhance safety, increasing patrols and wanding for weapons under the new “Jack’s Law” provisions brought in by our Government recently.  “Home” teams from the Department of Housing also continue to engage with rough sleepers to find them alternative accommodation.

Q: Council has told residents that the homelessness issue is a State responsibility. What is your response? Can you outline council’s specific responsibilities and limits in relation to rough sleepers occupying council-managed parks?

A: I have always accepted that housing is a responsibility of the State.  A decade of underinvestment has seen a housing crisis and we are working hard to deliver more social, supported and affordable housing across the state.  Having said that, Council is responsible for managing their parks.  I have met with council representatives now on several occasions and expressed my views around how they could handle this issue particularly in our kids’ playgrounds and near schools.  I have had the local police offer to work with council on a solution to recover this park space for our local families.

Q: Has the State received any formal request from Sunshine Coast Council to establish a temporary accommodation site, fund emergency facilities or support an interim response in Nambour?  

A: The State continues to work on medium to long term solutions to the housing crisis as I’ve indicated.  I understand Council has identified some land they believed the State could purchase or build on.  Whilst the view of collaboration is welcome, the issue of safety in our parks is far more immediate, and I believe there is a simpler short-term solution required to address it.

Q: Does the State support exclusion zones or safety boundaries around playgrounds and schools to prevent camping in high-risk areas?

A: This is the issue that council is responsible for. I have met with police and council regarding this. I have provided my opinion that there should be an exclusion zone enforced by council around our children’s playground and school, and I have confirmed that police are willing to assist council in managing this zone if they decide to take that route. This is not about heavy-handed tactics but about negotiated management of our community spaces.  I believe police, with the support of council, could begin to manage these exclusion zones effectively if council requested it. Ultimately though, that decision is up to council and responds directly to the petition from the community. I have offered to council and police to facilitate a meeting to plan this solution moving forward.  

Q: Residents have reported repeated safety concerns, including assaults, threatening behaviour and drug paraphernalia in parks. What measures are in place to ensure public safety while balancing the needs of vulnerable rough sleepers?

A: The QPS have increased patrols and operations around Nambour with recent success.  The new police beat announced recently in Lowe St will soon be operational which will add that police presence on the ground in the CBD and further enhance their ability to assist council in managing the safety of our CBD and parks.

Q: Given strong evidence of public frustration and rising tensions, what is the State’s plan to prevent vigilantism or unsafe community responses in the absence of clear communication from authorities?

A: I communicate regularly with Helen Tagg.  She has my personal number and I will always answer her calls and texts, and I’ve contacted her with any updates I have.  Communication is very important and we are doing everything we can as a State Government in this space.  There is much more to be done and I have met with relevant Ministers this week in Parliament about possible legislative responses as well. The issues Nambour is experiencing are consistent with those being seen across the State.  Whilst we are seeing our government’s tougher on crime approach resulting in reductions in crime we have a long way to go after a decade of decline.

Q: On safety in the CBD, has council provided any support for funding of CCTV?

A: The CCTV upgrade funding has been provided to Council along with some proposed scope of work.  Council advised that they are unable to provide any extra or ongoing funding to this project, however the state funding as provided will cover the costs of the upgrades.