Surfers Paradise locals fed up with hooning, local MP steps in
Talks are on the way as Surfers Paradise residents urge authorities to implement hi-tech road cameras to catch out noisy vehicles and hoons. FULL STORY
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Surfers Paradise residents are urging authorities to implement hi-tech road cameras to catch out noisy vehicles and hoons.
The technology has proven successful in a NSW-based trial targeted at repeat offenders polluting the streets with “over the top” and “ridiculous” noise – with 1000 culprits caught across two locations in less than three months.
Residents have compared the sounds of Surfers Paradise to that of a racetrack, demanding stronger police presence to clamp down on the growing issue.
One resident who lives adjacent to the five-star celebrity-magnet hotel The Langham said the issue was getting worse by the day.
“The city is built on tourism and things like this are a massive turn off to our visitor economy,” they said.
“And us the residents pay massive rates to live here. I’ve been living in this section of Surfers Paradise since July 2023 and in that time alone it’s gone from the occasional hoon to now basically nightly with more cars involved.”
The resident, who has lived on the Gold Coast for nearly three decades, said more needs to be done before tragedy strikes.
“As a resident you don’t feel safe, this is happening constantly and it’s not just hooning it’s drag racing sometimes five nights a week,” they said.
“They’re drag racing through the streets from Broadbeach through to Surfers up Surf Pde sometimes two, three cars at a time. It’s as though they have free reign, you never see cops around here because it’s such a good area. They know it and they make the most of it. Surely council or state government can start installing cameras so they can actually witness what’s going on.”
Other residents said sleepless nights are common as the issue grows, with one even suggesting a “hoon tax”.
“Start booking these sad boys to men with their silly exhausts, loud revving, snap crackle n poppin displays (sic) of bogan look at me,” one resident posted to a Facebook community group.
“May as well hit the Lambo boys up as well because they can afford it. Send a couple of ticket writers to any of the esplanade lights and listen to the money roll in. As for the rest of us, we might get a little bit of sleep in good old 4217.”
Another said they’d lived in the area for 20 years and should not be forced to move away from their home.
“Why should we move from a place we love because the ‘level of fun’ has risen to a high decibel racetrack,” they said.
“We don’t want a duller place to move to, just some police presence and consideration for others.”
Member for Surfers Paradise John-Paul Langbroek said a meeting had been organised to tackle the issue.
“The former Labor Government failed to address hooning and anti-social behaviour in my electorate,” he said.
“I have scheduled a meeting with the Queensland Police Service to discuss what more can be done to tackle this issue, while we wait for the final outcomes of the hi-tech camera trial in New South Wales.”
The Minister for Education and the Arts and local MP said he would continue to work with Transport Minister Brent Mickelberg and Police Minister Dan Purdie to put an end to a “decade of Labor’s soft on crime approach”.
Originally published as Surfers Paradise locals fed up with hooning, local MP steps in
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