Caloundra youth remand centre documents did not include consultation strategy

Emotions were high as Sunshine Coast councillors made allegations of political grandstanding and the state government rushing through plans for a youth remand centre in Caloundra.

Initial plans to turn Caloundra Watchhouse into a remand centre lacked information and a consultation strategy, it was revealed during a Sunshine Coast councillor’s impassioned plea against the proposal.

Councillor Terry Landsberg said he feared reputational damage the state government would cause by housing young criminals at the watchhouse one kilometre from the Caloundra CBD and next door to a crematorium.

A majority of councillors supported his notice of motion that the watchhouse was an “unacceptable” location for a youth remand centre and that they call on the government to abandon its plans.

He said ministerial infrastructure designation documents for the plan were given to the council about a month ago without a consultation strategy.

The state government has budgeted $5m this year to repurpose the facility and $11.4m over four years to operate it, despite residents only hearing about the plans last month.

The budget did not stipulate it would be located at the Caloundra Watchhouse.

Mr Landsberg said Queensland’s youth detention centres were “well away from residential areas and community facilities”.

“When I’ve spoken to councillors who represent those shires their first response to me was ‘that’s a bizarre decision’ for the location,” he said.

“We know Caloundra as a family friendly location and we’ve built our reputation on that.

“It’s the reputational damage that I’m really concerned about.”

Council executive James Ruprai said the documents were provided by QBuild on behalf of the Department of Youth Justice.

Mr Ruprai said the council could not conduct a full assessment because of the lack of information.

He said the council’s response included a comment that they were not given a consultation plan.

Caloundra MP Jason Hunt said consultation would start on plans to turn the Caloundra Watchhouse into a youth remand centre next week. Picture: Dan Peled

Caloundra MP Jason Hunt said he looked forward to working collaboratively with the council on the issue.

He said a consultation process would begin next week and he would meet with Mr Landsberg and community groups “in the very near future”.

“It is my hope this will ensure the transition from temporarily accommodating adult offenders to temporarily accommodating young offenders is a smooth and well understood process,” Mr Hunt said.

Maroochydore Watchhouse is the Sunshine Coast’s primary facility and the Caloundra building’s use is limited.

It is staffed Monday to Friday from 8am – 4pm for police officers to process prisoners for court appearances at Caloundra.

Councillor Christian Dickson said he was saddened by Mr Hunt’s inability to inform residents about the plan.

But Mr Hunt said as a candidate in the 2020 election campaign he “could not possibly” have known that the project would be included in the 2021-22 budget.

It is understood consultation for an ministerial infrastructure designation must go for a minimum of 15 days.

Mr Landsberg quoted letters from several groups that also opposed the plans including Visit Sunshine Coast, Caloundra Chamber of Commerce, Caloundra Christian College and Gregson and Weight.

It is understood if the government built a new remand centre it would need to lodge an impact-assessable application with the council.

Those applications need public consultation and assessments on community, traffic and other impacts.

Councillor David Law voted against the motion and said he was alarmed by the politics behind the debate.

“It wreaks of grandstanding and whipping up hysteria,” he said.

“How can we make decisions when we don’t know what’s going on?”

Mr Landsberg said he had communicated with people with “first-hand knowledge” and was deeply concerned.