Tramway leaders tell MPs safety is vital to 'compassionate' Nambour's revival

Nambour Tramway Company leaders Greg Rogerson & Peter Clark.

Nambour Tramway Company leaders Peter Clark and Greg Rogerson have told a parliamentary hearing that anti-social behaviour is threatening the town’s revival and putting major community investment at risk.

Appearing before the Justice, Integrity and Community Safety Committee in Nambour on March 30, the pair backed proposed new police powers aimed at tackling anti-social behaviour in designated business and community precincts.

Mr Clark, a director and vice-president of the Nambour Tramway Company, said the issue went to the heart of whether Nambour could rebuild confidence in its CBD.

“Our organisation was established 13 years ago with a clear purpose to help revitalise the Nambour CBD by restoring and activating the heritage listed tram line that runs through the town,” he said.

“With the support of the Sunshine Coast Regional Council, the federal government, philanthropic contributors and local donors, we have raised and invested over $3 million into this project.”

But he said that investment would be undermined if visitors continued to feel unsafe in town.

“I believe if these issues are not addressed, we’ve probably just wasted $3 million because why bring people to town when they leave feeling unsafe, when they feel as though they’re concerned for their wellbeing in this town,” Mr Clark said.

He described Nambour as a compassionate town, but said a growing level of anti-social behaviour was discouraging families, deterring visitors and making life harder for businesses.

“Antisocial and at times intimidating behaviour became more visible,” he said.

Mr Clark told the hearing he had seen an elderly woman verbally abused while loading groceries into her car, and said the tramway company had also suffered vandalism, with a large glass door smashed.

He said the proposed move-on powers were a crucial part of the bill. “I think that really breaks that cycle of just day on day on day anti-social behaviour,” he said.

Chairman Greg Rogerson also supported the legislation, saying many in the mainstream community, especially older residents, were alarmed by behaviour in the CBD.

He told the hearing Nambour was a town with strong schools, a major hospital, rail access and many caring community organisations, but said it had also become a destination for some people with drug and alcohol problems. 

“Persons yelling, screaming, obscenities, fighting in the streets, blackmailing shoppers, local and imported youth running amok at all hours of the night,” Mr Rogerson said.

He said tougher enforcement should be matched with stronger support programmes, particularly for young people. “With increased policing and tougher stance within the court system, there should be increased mandatory alternative programs implemented, especially for the youth,” he said.

Both men argued that while vulnerable people needed support, anti-social behaviour could not be allowed to drive people away from town.