Threatening, unruly, bizarre behaviour commonplace

Shopkeepers in Nambour CBD have to deal with regular and consistent threatening, unruly and bizarre behaviour, in addition to criminal activity and violence, as the town copes with the knock-on effects of mental health and addiction issues.

Several people, who did not wish to be named for fear of an online backlash or damage to their premises, said a drug subculture was thriving in the town. 

The sub-culture,  including trafficking, has developed around services such as needle exchange and availability of opioid replacement therapies like methadone.  

Shopkeepers say drug deals in broad daylight are an everyday occurrence. 

Many know who the dealers are. One even positioned her stock to obstruct part of her window so she would not have to witness the regular criminal activity as it took place. 

Another said it was common to see people “off their face melting down” on drugs.

“... they walk up the street, ranting and raving, swearing, spitting on the ground,” she said. 

“You never know if they are off their chops and what they are capable of. It’s very confronting and scary. 

“And just because we get a little bit used to it over time, doesn’t mean it should be happening here, all the time.”

One female shopkeeper said a fairly major incident happened every week. 

While they always felt secure in their shop, she and a staff member  had a “plan B escape route” prepared just in case.

Other retailers have told of bizarre behaviour where people come in to their shops and knock over stock in agressive and outlandish raids where the end objective appears to be to create havoc while shoplifting at the same time. 

“This is a State Government issue and they need to clean up the situation they created,” said another shop owner. “It’s not nice to feel unsafe in your own town.”

Most businesses agreed regular, visible police patrols in Nambour CBD would improve the situation.