by Cameron Outridge 

With the state election looming in October, the focus shifted to Nambour during a recent visit by Opposition Leader David Crissafuli, where he highlighted local crime issues and his policy proposals to address them.

Amid concerns from senior residents and businesses about safety, Mr Crissafuli vowed to address the youth crime crisis.

Mr Crissafuli said Nambour residents and businesses remained fiercely protective of the town’s reputation but many felt helpless to stop crime in the area, including anti-social, drug-related and drunken behaviour. 

He said since the government came to power in 2015, there had been a 115 percent increase in stolen cars. 

“We can’t continue to see what we are seeing. We can’t continue to see the youth crime crisis rip the heart and soul out of beautiful communities,” he said at a Lowe Street media event.

Marty Hunt, LNP candidate for Nicklin agreed. “As I make my way around the community, I am hearing loud and clear that locals want the issue of crime taken seriously. I will always advocate for greater community safety in Nambour, and in the communities across Nicklin.”

A Nambour businesswoman and a senior also spoke at the event. “I have been told on several occasions that people don’t feel safe coming into town and coming in and to visit us, and that makes me really sad,” Hammond Optometry owner Deb Hammond said. 

Resident Val Carter said many local seniors avoided leaving the house for fear of having their car stolen. 

Stats trending down but even one incident is too many: Skelton

“We have to keep our garage doors closed. We are putting locks on our garage so they can’t come along and just prize them open,” she told 7 News. 

Nicklin Labor MP Rob Skelton yesterday acknowledged the issue but said statistics showed the police were working effectively. 

“The stats are trending down and I and the government try to manage as best as possible. But at the end of the day, even one incident is too many, especially if you’re the victim,” he said. “Stats are one thing, but if you’re the one who is robbed or assaulted it doesn’t matter. And we understand that.”

Mr Skelton said Nambour was still recovering from the historic sugar mill closure and from Council’s pulling hundreds of jobs from the Eddie De Vere building in Currie Street to City Hall, Maroochydore. 

Mr Skelton said anti-social behaviour was also having a detrimental effect on the CBD.

“What we need is more people in town, and we’ll get there with more events like we have been having recently,” he said.

Mr Skelton said the issues were complex and there were no easy fixes and the town’s transition was taking time.  

“In the meantime I’m doing what I can to try and keep everyone getting along,” he said. 

Stats

Thirty cars were stolen in Nambour between January and May this year compared to 83 in total reported last year. 

According to the ABC, Sunshine Coast crime data for the past year shows the town had seven percent of all break-ins and nine per cent of the region’s assaults.

The LNP says its ‘Making our Community Safer Laws’ will:

• Restore consequences for actions for Adult Crime with Adult Time;

• Enforce the Staying on Track rehabilitation program to bridge the gap and drive down youth re-offending rates;

• Ensure judges can impose sentences that reflect community expectations;

• Reform early intervention programs to divert young lives from crime; and

• Increase the number of police on the beat.