Caloundra Christian College principal concerned for student safety amid youth jail plans

A Sunshine Coast school community has been left confused and concerned as plans progress on a youth remand centre less than 500 metres away.

The state government has been urged to answer questions on the safety and security risks of jailing young criminals 500 metres away from a Sunshine Coast school.

Caloundra Christian College principal Vince Wakefield has raised concerns with the government’s plans to repurpose the nearby Caloundra Watchhouse into a youth remand centre.

Under the plans, young people refused bail and awaiting sentencing would be locked up at Caloundra if the two other Queensland facilities were full.

The government budgeted $5m to refit the watchhouse this year and more than $16m over five years for its operation as a youth remand centre.

Mr Wakefield said he was concerned for the safety and security of students and teachers and potential traffic and noise impacts.

His concerns were not eased during a meeting with youth justice minister Leanne Linard earlier this month.

Sunshine Coast councillor Terry Landsberg and representatives from business and residents groups also attended.

“There was a feeling from myself and others that the decision has already been made and the consultation feels fairly limited,” Mr Wakefield said.

“We’ve had a number of parents contact me via email or in person … their concern is the lack of information, they are concerned and confused.”

The use of Caloundra Watchhouse is minimal.

In the past 16 years it has been used to lock up criminals overnight on three occasions because the Maroochydore Watchhouse was undergoing repairs.

Ms Linard said as a youth remand centre it would be used for “short periods of time” when capacity was full at other youth detention centres.

According to the youth justice strategy 2019-23 the average time a youth is kept on remand is 36 days.

Ms Linard said community safety was the government’s highest priority.

“There is not expected to be any noticeable change or impact on the school,” she said.

Mr Wakefield said he was not convinced the youth remand centre’s impact on the community would be similar to that of the watchhouse.

“There is a difference between having adults there for a few days and children there for any length of time,” he said.

“What happens when the need for this facility increases ... these are answers we don’t have.

“It’s concerning because we have a beautiful college community here with families who are very important to us.

“We don’t have a problem with being connected to more of a public services and business area, but we want to make sure we continue to have safety and security.”

Mr Landsberg said he hoped the government would take on board the serious concerns residents had about the location.

“We should have been notified about the potential use of this a long time ago,” he said.

“We’ve been kept in the dark about it and it’s poor form.”

Ms Linard said plans to repurpose the building needed to be part of a community discussion to ensure “everyone knew the facts”.

“Instead of a mixture of adults and young people that could be held in there, it will just be young people,” she said.

Residents have been told to email the government’s department of energy and public works before August 11 to have their say on the plans.

The email address is [e-mail]

Further community consultation is expected to take place in September.