Nambour business owners and residents are living on edge, after a spate of break-ins and disorder.
A mini crime wave swept through the hinterland hub during one night in October, when seven businesses were targeted. Several incidents have been reported since.
That’s despite the opening of a new $8.3m police station in July.
An open letter has reportedly been sent from local community group Reimagine Nambour, asking local businesses for donations to fund extra police officers to patrol the CBD.
The Shadow Minister for Police Dale Last said it was a disgrace that business owners were essentially passing around a donation tin to keep their streets safe.
“Just three months ago the Premier opened the new Nambour Police Station, yet here we have locals being requested to pay for police,” he said via a press release.
“Nambour locals deserve better.”
Business owners Michelle and Darrell Dalton were among those to feel the effects, after their outlet (Golf Programs Australia Inc) was broken into. The perpetrators stole goods and damaged their bus.
Ms Dalton said the CBD was “totally out of control”.
“The town has definitely been targeted,” she said.
There is a petition for ‘A Safer CBD for Nambour’, aimed at addressing ‘youth crime, drug and alcohol abuse, in-street violence, vagrancy and menacing behaviour that has resulted in residents feeling unsafe and businesses suffering’.
The petition, aimed at Member for Nicklin Robert Skelton, called for ‘additional policing resources to turn this lawlessness around’.
A man was stabbed with a knife in the main street earlier this year, while another was attacked with a machete in a residential drive last month.
Ms Dalton said there were 10 to 15 unsavoury incidents and confrontations outside her shop every day.
“There is a huge homeless and mental un-wellness group and we’re dealing with them at an escalated level,” she said.
“One lady just tried to break our front door with a 16-inch concrete slab.
“We get harassed every day.”
She believed a new group of troublemakers had recently arrived in Nambour.
“You’ve got to hear the hum of the town and we hear it every day, because we deal with a lot of homeless people,” she said.
“Some of them are very good but are in a tough position.
“They tell us there’s a new crowd that came in a couple of months ago … with more drugs.
“It’s getting worse and worse because we’re ‘just Nambour’.
Ms Dalton said most businesses could not afford to pay for extra police or security and the town needed help.
“We’re targeted at Nambour because there is not enough activity, there’s not enough lights and there’s not enough (police) response.
“We’ve been screaming for more police.
“Nambour has to have far greater improvement.”
The Crafters Heart coffee op shop was among other businesses broken into.
Store owner and former social and youth worker, Jamie Brady, told SCN that Nambour’s troubles were unique to the region.
“You don’t see it anywhere else on the Sunshine Coast,” he said.
But he wasn’t sure a larger police presence would help.
He believed the CBD needed to become normalised, with more lights and more activity from everyday families.
Most Nambour community members have passion and pride for their town, judging by their Facebook page. The town is a centre for art and culture and locals are generally giving and friendly – Nambour is a hub for volunteers and welfare groups.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk joined Police Minister Mark Ryan and Police Commissioner Katarina Carroll for the official opening of the new police station four months ago.
The station is staffed by 30 police officers, six marked vehicles, two unmarked vehicles and two forensic crash vehicles.
Premier Palaszczuk helped open the facility, which also plays host to specialist groups, including The Highway Patrol Group, Forensic Crash Unit, Criminal Investigation Branch, Child Protection Investigation Unit and the District Intelligence Unit.
“The Nambour community can rest assured that they have access to a fantastic policing resource right here on their doorstep,” she said.
The Member for Nicklin, Robert Skelton, said there was not a serious crime problem in the town.
“Crime rates in Nambour, in tandem with crime rates all over Queensland, have shown a steady decrease over the last five years,” he said.
“Of course, this does not mean that there is no crime in Nambour.”
Mr Skelton said he was “deeply disheartened” by Reimagine Nambour’s letter to businesses.
“This achieves nothing besides tarnishing Nambour’s image and scaring away potential investment,” he said.
“It is offensive to suggest that businesses, after suffering through pandemic conditions for two long years, should have to fork out money for a private police force.”
Mr Skelton said there were other steps being taken to combat crime.
“There has been major groundswell in the area for starting a Nambour Neighbourhood Watch, which will be far less costly and more effective,” he said.
He also said the police and government were committed to keeping the streets safe.
“Police are currently undertaking Operation Lucent in Nambour, to address property crime and good order offences, with the deployment of resources from across the district.
“In addition, a School Based Police Officer regularly patrols the central business district and precinct in relation to youth crime.
“District Police Liaison Officers have also provided a presence in the CBD through foot patrols and the ‘Coffee with a Cop’ initiative in Nambour Plaza.
“The Queensland Police Service remains committed to enhancing public safety in the Nambour CBD and will continue to liaise with community stakeholders in relation to any concerns.”
SCN approached The Minister for Police’s office and Reimagine Nambour for comments but was yet to hear from them.
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