Kelvin Grove resident blames affordable housing units for crime in suburb

An inner Brisbane suburb is nearing a “crisis” as the community battles against crime, according to some locals who fear for their safety.

Some Kelvin Grove residents, including Peter Jeremijenko and Lindy Brand, are fed up with the crime and conditions in the area. Picture: AAP/Renae Droop

KELVIN Grove Urban Village is nearing a “crisis”, as the community battles against crime, a local boarding house owner claims.

Peter Jeremijenko said he blamed tenants in Brisbane Housing Company’s low-rental property at Ramsgate St for the ongoing crime in the area. He has called for local residents to attend at Neighbourhood Watch “Coffee with a Cop” meeting today between 11am and 1pm at The Boys House of Coffee on Musk Ave, Kelvin Grove.

Kelvin Grove’s main strip. Picture: AAP/Renae Droop

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He said that his complaints to local and state government representatives, and BHC, about the tenants had gone unanswered.

“I can’t get any information about the people who live there,” he said about Ramsgate St.

“I’ve been living next to it for 12 years — I know there are nice people living there as well — but crime is an issue. I know that the supermarket here has banned a lot of people, and the BWS has had its window smashed a couple of times, and I’d love to say I have a laptop but I don’t because it’s been stolen after break-ins.

“I rent to international students, and I am concerned for their safety.”

The small area is filled with unit complexes. Picture: AAP/Renae Droop

He said the building should be turned into more student accommodation.

Brisbane Housing Company Deputy CEO Rebecca Oelkers said this kind of discussion around blaming tenants for crime in the suburb was not based on fact. She said it damaged the self esteem of people who found themselves having to use affordable accommodation services.

“We have provided (affordable) accommodation in Kelvin Grove because it is an incredibly expensive place to rent and it is really well located,” she said.

Peter Jeremijenko and Lindy Brand. Picture: AAP/Renae Droop

“From our point of view there is nothing that links crime to affordable housing — no evidence of that whatsoever. Certainly the Kelvin Grove crime stats show that it is actually a really low crime area compared to some of the other areas like South Brisbane or Bowen Hills or West End.

“The notion of linking crime to affordable housing is a real furfy. Sometimes people get worried about it: ‘What is affordable housing, who are these people?’ I would say that they are just normal people, they are just on low incomes. That’s it.”

The City North News spoke to a range of locals and business owners this week.

All asked not to be identified for fear of reprisals.

One business owner said crime had been a problem in the area for a decade but said it was similar to experiences in other shopping strips.

“And 90 per cent of people around here are wonderful,” he said.

“There’s just that really small element that ruins it.”

Another businessman shared Mr Jeremijenko’s viewpoint but said to speak out was to put his business in danger.

Another employee who worked on the street said she would be more likely to say that the methadone clinic operating in the Village was the source of potential crime. She said she could not go on the record as she was an employee of a company which prohibited media commentary.

Mr Jeremijenko said he was aware of the methadone clinic.

“Every dole day they are lined up at the chemist to get their methadone,” he said.

“Yes, I definitely think it contributes.

“But I bet a lot of those people (City North news talked to about the overall crime issue) don’t live here. I’ve lived here for 12 years next to Ramsgate St and I know that’s the problem.”

Mr Jeremijenko said he reported to BHC a recent incident where he received death threats from someone at Ramsgate.

Ms Oelkers confirmed that one guest of a resident had been asked not to return to the property after the incident.