Claims $5m COVID stimulus for Beenleigh will be ‘wasted’ on streetscape, shade sails, art
A struggling southside town, battling drugs, crime and business closures, has been thrown a $5 million funding lifeline but locals say spending it on shade sails, street art and new footpaths will not save their CBD.
Logan
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A flagging town south of Brisbane battling drugs, crime and business closures has been handed a $5 million lifeline, which some locals fear will be wasted on shade sails.
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Beenleigh town centre was one of three Logan projects the state government singled out for COVID funding as part of a package to resuscitate the state economy.
The state government last week announced it would add $2 million to Logan City Council’s $3 million for “shovel-ready projects” to beautify Beenleigh as part of its coronavirus stimulus.
City Rd, James St, George St and Main St, where major businesses such as Savages Arcade have shut, will be spruced up with colourful shade sails and overhead shade “disks”.
Footpaths will be upgraded and old paving ripped up and replaced with concrete.
Modern benches, street furniture and lighting will be built in the centre’s main streets which will also get new security cameras and a number of smart signs alerting drivers to available parking spaces.
But the cash splash triggered anger from some shop owners and businesses who have endured a downturn in trade.
Long-time Beenleigh resident James Herbst slammed the “superficial” spending.
“Nobody wants to address the elephant in the room which is drugs and this is all about fixing the optics rather than the drug problem,” he said.
“The sharps container at the court fills up very quickly as addicts shoot up before their hearing in case they’re found guilty and it’s their last hit before jail.
“Locals stay away from the town square and call it ‘Punch-up Park’, where I’ve seen drug deals done in broad daylight.
“Putting up some shade sails is just masking over the real issue which is killing business.”
Jeweller Natalia Tormasi said she was annoyed the money had been allocated without any community consultation.
“Unfortunately, once again millions of dollars will be spent and we, the people who live and work here, are being told this how it is going to be,” she said.
“Where were the meetings with the people who live and work in the area? Where in this design does it reflect our historical heritage where it could be tied to the Beenleigh Historical Village?”
It also prompted comments from some candidates running for the seat of Macalister in the October state election.
Macalister candidate Margaret Keech, a former State MP for the area, said the money would be better spent on projects to help rid the city of drugs.
Mrs Keech, who resigned from the ALP in July, will go head to head with the Labor Party’s sitting MP Melissa McMahon and Judi van Manen, who welcomed the investment.
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“The Beenleigh CBD and the current businesses need more than shade sails and paintings to bring back the investment,” Mrs Keech said.
“I would recommend to the state government, the first thing it could do is spend $300,000 to reimburse a drug clinic in City Rd, which had the best of intentions but is located in the wrong place.
“The clinic could then work in conjunction with the council to find a better, safer location.”
Sitting MP Melissa McMahon said Logan council decided how the money would be spent and she played no role in allocating the money.
Beenleigh business owner Nate Hamon said businesses wanted money spent on setting up markets incorporated across the town.
“The streetscape upgrades are what we have been lobbying for but we have reservations about ensuring efficacy of the spending,” he said.
“We spent a few million dollars on our Beenleigh pool upgrade and the local schools can’t use it for competitions as it’s not regulation size.
“Spending money is one thing but bragging rights come when you spend it wisely.”
One backer of the plan, Logan mayor Darren Power, said the streetscape spending “sounds good to me”.