Traders want councillor’s help to stop ‘unsavoury’ people

Frustrated Boundary St businesses say it’s time their councillor helped stop anti-social behaviour on the popular West End strip.

Greens Councillor Jonathan Sri leads a blockade in West End. Small businesses want him to focus on fixing anti-social behaviour along Boundary St. Picture: Liam Kidston

Frustrated Boundary St businesses say it’s time their councillor helped stop anti-social behaviour on the popular West End strip.

State Labor MP for South Brisbane, Jackie Trad, called a community meeting last Friday after traders contacted her for help following a violent incident in a Boundary St restaurant.

The meeting came as the West End Traders Association released a study by respected consultancy firm Urbis, which pinpointed three hotspots of anti-social behaviour — Small (People’s) Park, outside the corner of Russell St, and the Melbourne St Boulevard.

“Customer numbers are down, shop and office leases are remaining vacant and it is having a negative impact on amenity for this great local community,” WETA president Peter Marinelli said.

“We ask Councillor Jonathan Sri (The Gabba) and the council to acknowledge the issues.’’

Mr Marinelli said Urbis’ Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) safety audit was commissioned by WETA to see what could be done.

He said CPTED was an international benchmark used by police and council.

It was a multidisciplinary approach to reducing crime through urban and environmental design.

The audit included interviews with residents, tenants and business owners.

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“The CPTED report demonstrates that safety is being compromised due to poor urban design; some of the most marginalised people in the area are at the greatest risk of crime because of these dirty, badly lit places,” he said.

“We acknowledge there is a much bigger conversation about caring for homeless and the marginalised.

“We’re keen to contribute to that, but it’s only a matter of time before a more serious incident occurs.

“WETA is calling on Councillor Sri (The Gabba) and council to act immediately on the CPTED report.”

Cr Sri, who was not invited to Friday’s meeting, said it was important decisions about the future of Boundary St involved the whole community, particularly vulnerable and marginalised people who relied on accessible public spaces.

“When dealing with complex issues, a lot comes down to how you define the problem — is it simply that some spaces are poorly designed, or is the real problem that people aren’t receiving the necessary government and community support to cope with intergenerational disadvantage and the ongoing trauma of colonisation?’’ he said.

“Recently, both BCC and the State Government have redesigned other spaces such as under the Kurilpa Bridge to discourage vulnerable people from congregating there, which has placed increased strain on other public spaces.

“Removing public seating and installing more cameras might force people to use a different public space, but it won’t fix mental health and substance addiction issues.

“We need more funding for public housing and well-targeted community services, particularly those that cater specifically to Aboriginal people.’’

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A council spokeswoman said an upgrade of Small Park’s toilet block was opposed by Cr Sri, but council nevertheless cleaned it twice a day and did daily security checks.

A spotlight would also be installed within the park to light the rear area, by the end of the financial year.

“The Queensland Police Service is responsible for monitoring and enforcing crime and public safety, however Council undertakes regular inspections throughout West End,’’ a spokeswoman said.

“Council will continue to liaise with the local councillor and Queensland Police Service regarding future safety initiatives throughout West End.’’

Ms Trad said Friday’s meeting resolved to set up a standing safety committee and to talk further about how to support at-risk people after hours with a multidisciplinary approach.

Queensland Treasurer and MP for South Brisbane, Jackie Trad. Picture: AAP/Dan Peled

“Many of the services there to help them finish at 10 or 12 at night and we know a lot of the things that happen occur after then,’’ Ms Trad said.

“Some of these people have complex issues and we need to respond to them in a way that is safe,” she said.

She said assisting people with complex needs was a State Government responsibility and it had done so in the area for a long time, particularly via groups such as Micah Projects.

Chop Chop Changs restaurant owner Brett Nolan said the tree on the Russell St corner needed to be thinned and made into a lighting feature.

“Boundary St is very dim, particularly compared to Melbourne St,’’ he said.

“We don’t want to get rid of people, but over the last year or so it has become unpleasant late at night to have a stroll on the street.’’

He said the situation had worsened in the past year but it was mainly only his regular customers who had complained about feeling uncomfortable, particularly when they left at the end of the night.

“There’s been an escalation of unpleasantness. Not just incidents, but a general atmosphere of insecurity,’’ Mr Nolan said.

Terry White Pharmacy owner Mary Fotinos also said “unsavoury’’ behaviour had been on the rise in the past 12 to 18 months.

Mary Fotinos, owner of the Boundary St Terry White chemist. Picture: Jono Searle

She did not believe any one approach would work and said a combination of methods were needed.

However, an increase in police visibility might help, but only if done in a community-building manner.

“We used to have a police station on the street but now it is in Vulture St and soon it will move further away again, to Montague Rd,’’ she said.

“It’s not so much violence, just unsavoury behaviour that makes people uncomfortable.

“We have a very tolerant community here in West End and it’s been disheartening to see this because we have tried to work with (complex needs) people.

“The measures put in place over the years to fix the problems don’t seem to be working as much.

“I don’t know why that is — possibly it’s due to people moving further up the street after the Commonwealth Bank branch, where they congregated, closed.’’

She agreed the park was badly designed, which encouraged anti-social behaviour.