Davenport community members fear for kids’ future amid youth crime spike

Residents at a “forgotten” Aboriginal community fear their kids will be pulled into a life of crime if more isn’t done to set them on the right path.

Residents of a “forgotten” Aboriginal community on the outskirts of Port Augusta fear for the future of their children as youth crime grips the town.

Community members at Davenport, a settlement on the northern fringe of Port Augusta, have criticised the state government’s lack of support for young people in the community, who roam the streets in large gangs on any given night committing crime.

“We have been forgotten,” Davenport Community Council acting chief executive Lavene Ngatokorua said.

“We’re in the too-hard basket. We need support.”

Davenport Community Council acting chief executive Lavene Ngatokorua said the community had been “forgotten” by the state government. Picture Dean Martin

At Davenport, the community centre lies derelict and vandalised after several break-ins and fires, with overgrown weeds and rubbish covering the playground.

“If the place is sitting empty like it is, it’s just going to get destroyed,” Ms Ngatokrua said.

She said the community had been neglected by the state government since the Aboriginal Lands Trust (ALT) took responsibility for the centre away from the council and appointed an external manager of the community in June 2021.

The move came after community members reported dilapidated buildings and accused the council of mismanagement.

But Ms Ngatokorua said the ALT had banned the council from operating youth programs in the community, which had led to children committing crime in Davenport and Port Augusta.

“Stopping our programs has had a ripple effect on the spirit of community,” Ms Ngatokorua said. ALT chief executive Grant Rigney said the lands trust was aware of the state of the of the community centre.

“It’s been ongoing,” he said.

“It’s not just a one-off thing.”

Mr Rigney said the ALT had “done its due diligence” and made repairs to buildings in the community and undertaken clean-ups.

“When we are aware of any type of issues with these types of buildings … we’re undertaking what we need to be doing to make sure that’s in working order for the community to access and try to get back into to run programs out of,” he said.

The Advertiser recently revealed dozens of Davenport youths, some as young as 11, were part of a group dubbed “DPG”, or “Davenport Gangsters”, wandering the streets until as late as daybreak, committing crimes and clashing with other groups of youths in town.

Those who spoke to The Advertiser said they committed crimes, including breaking into homes and stealing cars, because they were “bored”.

“I do feel sorry for them kids,” Ms Ngatokorua said.

Charelle Dingaman said she feared many of her six children would be pulled into crime with youth gangs in Port Augusta if more wasn’t done to keep kids at Davenport on the right track.

“It’s worrying,” she said, holding her one-year-old daughter Chereena. “It’s really worrying.”

Davenport mother Charelle Dingaman, pictured with one-year-old daughter Chereena, said she feared her kids would go down the wrong path if more government support wasn’t offered. Picture: Dean Martin

Ms Ngatokorua said the council received funding from the federal government but not the state government.

“We don’t get one cent from them,” she said. “We don’t get any money. If there’s no money coming into the community then the community is going to start going bad.”

A Human Services Department spokeswoman said it would explore what more could be done for the community.

“We will also consider what additional programs can be offered to support positive outcomes for young people,” she said.

The spokeswoman said the department would also explore extending the outreach program focused on reducing adult anti-social behaviour to young people.

But Ms Ngatokorua said the state government needed to do more to support kids who were growing up in challenging conditions.

“While the government’s fighting … about whose responsibility it is, the community suffers and then we get nothing,” she said.

“We’re sick of talking.”