Airlie Beach Safe Night Precinct funding at risk as assaults rise

Amanda Camm says the funding for Airlie Beach Safe Night Precinct is at risk of not being reinstated despite increases in assaults and anti-social behaviour.

Member for Whitsunday Amanda Camm and Safe Night Airlie Beach CBD Precinct secretary Margie Murphy are pushing for funding to be reinstated. Picture: Contributed

Whitsunday MP Amanda Camm is pushing for the Airlie Beach Safe Night Precinct funding to be reinstated amid an increase in assaults and anti-social behaviour in the town.

The string of assaults have resulted in a policeman allegedly being kicked in the groin, two security guards headbutted and a tourist allegedly beaten as he lay on the ground – all in a single week.

Ms Camm said the Airlie Beach SNP was vital in ensuring patron and community safety, particularly given the tourist nature of the area.

She is calling on the Palaszczuk Government to reinstate funding for the program.

“The termination of funding for the SNP in Airlie Beach would have a major impact on the level of safety provided within the CBD,” Ms Camm said.

“The changing demographic of tourist activities within the region, with less international tourists and more regional visitors, has resulted in an increased assaults and anti-social behaviour.”

Safe Night Airlie Beach CBD Precinct secretary Margie Murphy has also raised her concern at the lack of funding.

“The SNP committee feels that this will result in a gap in the safe management of the Airlie Beach main street on weekend nights and a breakdown in communications between licensed venues and stakeholders,” Mrs Murphy said,

“One of our major concerns about the cessation of the SNP roaming security is that one of their main priorities is to assist and protect the Rest and Recovery unit staff.

“The Rest and Recovery unit provide first aid and support to intoxicated and drug affected patrons within the precinct on weekend nights.”