Desperate call for change at Cairns Villa and Leisure Park answered

Previously known as a hotbed of domestic violence and drug use, new programs offered at a notorious west Cairns van park are making a major improvement to residents’ lives.

PREVIOUSLY known as a hotbed of domestic violence, squalor and drug use, new programs offered at a notorious west Cairns accommodation site are making a major improvement to residents’ lives.

The Cairns Villa and Leisure park on Pease St, Manoora, started as a bustling holiday retreat before the global financial crisis, but has changed to attracting more long-term residents. Its Sydney-based owner Tony Breuer has argued steps have been taken to tackle violence and non-resident troublemakers.

The Cairns Villa and Leisure Park on Pease St in Manunda. PICTURE: BRENDAN RADKE

Until recently residents faced terrifying levels of violence, drug abuse and alcoholism.

For years pressure has mounted for improved resourcing to support more than 200 residents who exist in a heartbreaking limbo between homelessness and social housing.

And now the tide has started to turn.

A man assaults a woman outside the Cairns Villa and Leisure Park in Pease St.

Centacare FNQ has been working at the park for the past 12 months to offer a wide range of services from a space called The Hub in a broadening of the Women’s Yarning Place set up by advocate Yolonde Entsch.

A Harmony Day celebration is planned for Monday to celebrate a diverse range of cultures represented by park residents through music and prayer.

Empowering Women, Empowering Communities in 2019 helped create a yarning place at Cairns Villa and Leisure tourist park, a place exclusively for women to be used by residents and the wider Cairns community. Zonta Club of Cairns member Anne Pyle, Director of Empowering Women, Empowering Communities Yolonde Entsch and Zonta Club of Cairns President Roslyn Scott in the new space. PICTURE: BRENDAN RADKE

Park owner Mr Breuer will unveil a plaque dedicated to Ms Entsch in recognition of her tireless work to improve life for marginalised people.

Centacare FNQ executive director Anita Veivers said since The Hub opened there had been a marked decrease in security call outs and reports of domestic violence incidents.

“We are really pleased to be able to co-ordinate this work and have the opportunity to build relationships with the residents of the park,” she said.

Koza Nona and his partner Ghana Nielsen in their one bedroom studio villa which they share with their children at the Cairns Villa and Leisure Park at Manoora. They have converted their lounge room into a second bedroom, with the five children sharing the second bedroom. Picture: Brendan Radke

A new $3.2m Cairns west police station opposite the site is expected to dramatically curb criminal activity when it comes online in June next year and Manoora business confidence has been buoyed by a multimillion dollar redovelopemnt at the nearby Raintrees Shopping Centre.

More than 10 providers visit the Pease St park to provide outreach services and include Orange Sky Laundry, Wheels of Wellness, Salvation Army, Mission Australia, Wuchopperen, TAFE, The Maraway, QSTARS and Goodstart Early Learning.

Queensland Police is set to build a new $3.2 million hybrid police station at the Cairns Villa and Leisure Park in Manunda. PICTURE: BRENDAN RADKE

Weekly women’s empowerment sessions, monthly barbecues, mental health first aid training and every Thursday NDIS, Department of Housing and Centrelink come into The Hub and offer support to residents.

“It would be great to have enough social housing available in Cairns for all the people who need it but while we don’t, running programs and offering support services to connect people within their community is what we can offer,” Ms Veivers said.

On Monday from 10am, Harmony Day at the park will celebrate unity through diversity and will be attended by Cairns Mayor Bob and Claire Manning, and Leichhardt MP Warren Entsch.

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Originally published as Desperate call for change at Cairns Villa and Leisure Park answered