‘Everyone has a right to feel safe in their home town’

Andrew Pitcher is pushing for concrete action.

A businessman calling for increased police presence in Nambour says he has received overwhelming support for his plan since the story appeared in the Gazette last fortnight.

Andrew Pitcher has been involved in real estate investment and development in the area for more than 20 years. 

He says improving police presence in Nambour CBD was the first crucial step to stimulate business investment and reinvigorate the town he grew up in.  He said it was inarguable that people should have a right to feel safe in their home town.

He said a response from Sunshine Coast District Superintendent Craig Hawkins last week that there was “no evidence to indicate that a modified policing presence or response is required” in Nambour was “inadequate”. 

But he was pleased a later police statement to the Gazette (see this page) fully acknowledged the issue. “Nambour now needs to keep pushing for concrete action,” he said. “I have spoken to many, many people to gauge their views.

“And I am absolutely convinced that most people in the town share my thoughts. Everyone appreciates the work the police do. But its obvious more resources are needed in the CBD.”

Mr Pitcher said vulnerable, troubled and addicted people were drawn to the area on train to access mental health, addiction, methadone and needle exchange services. 

He said there were obvious safety issues associated with these services that should not be “out-sourced to the main street”. 

“No one is saying vulnerable people should not get all the help they need,” he said. But Nambour should not become the “too-hard basket” of the region.

Mr Pitcher said everyone he spoke to had compassion for vulnerable people and wanted what was best for Nambour. They all agreed it was a wonderful town and community. But he maintained that its potential was being stifled by safety concerns.  

“Surely, even people who have a different opinion about Nambour safety cannot argue against stopping law breakers. 

“There are so many anecdotes in the social media comments and that have been passed on to me personally ... including from people who will no longer shop in town and businesses that have closed. 

“I have had people from Woombye, Palmwoods and Nambour contact me saying they want the action plan to be implemented in their towns. I think more business people need to speak up.

“I think the ‘everything’s ok’ view may protect the small current shopper / visitor numbers. But it will never release the real potential of products and services that Nambour could offer if the CBD was a safer place to do business.  What is happening in Nambour is not ‘normal’ or ‘no worse than anywhere else’. It simply is worse, and is not acceptable.

“I call on our local, state and federal representatives to focus on genuine actions in the short term to show the public they are serious about this issue.”