Bryant Park, Greenacre: Alleged drug activity to enter ninth year
With neither NSW Police or the Canterbury Bankstown Council willing to take responsibility, fed up residents living nearby a suspected drug hotspot are attempting to fight back.
The Express
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As suspicious activity in a street in Sydney’s south west looks to enter its ninth year, residents living nearby a suspected drug hot spot are taking matters into their own hands in an effort to protect their families, and the local community.
Bryant Park, a seemingly innocent space for children – with seats and brightly coloured play equipment – is often overgrown with grass and scattered rubbish, making it an unappealing space for families.
According to residents, on any average night, two to three cars carrying groups of young men in their early twenties stop here for hours at a time – occasionally parking their vehicles in the middle of the street and blocking traffic – with ‘backyard bongs,’ sawn off water hoses and satchels used to store marijuana found by parents the morning after.
Small plastic packets containing remnants of white powder, discarded carelessly on the nature strip, are also commonplace.
Fed up with a lack of action from authorities, residents of Wesley Street have taken the protection of their homes and families into their own hands, parking their vehicles out the front of Bryant Park where possible – a move one man believes has acted as a deterrent to the youth’s ability to congregate.
The resident, who asked to remain anonymous, has lived on Wesley Street in Greenacre for close to 50 years, walking his dog around the neighbourhood daily.
“It wasn’t a bad area before,” he said. “Little kids used to come to play before. Now, no one.”
Another resident, who also asked to keep her identity confidential, said she was worried what impact the continued exposure to suspected drug activity could have on her three young sons.
“I see them (her sons) watching the cars and I tell them to get away from the window,” she said.
“It’s getting worse. We’ve found syringes right next to our home.”
The resident said he has given up trying to contact the relevant authorities regarding Bryant Park.
He said he last made contact with the Canterbury Bankstown Council in 2014, and was allegedly told that despite numerous existing complaints from concerned members of the community, it was solely up to police to resolve.
Canterbury Bankstown Council Mayor Khal Asfour said in a statement that he had lived in Greenacre his whole life, and that it was a “relatively” safe space to live and raise a family.
“Like most suburbs across greater Sydney, there is always a small minority who choose to do the wrong thing,” he said.
“But I won’t tolerate that sort of behaviour and I am working closely with police to ensure our suburbs and our neighbourhoods are family friendly.
“Greenacre is my home and I love living here.”
A NSW Police spokesman did not respond to specific questions about Bryant Park, and instead said a specialised strike force tasked with investigating drug supply, manufacturing and cultivation throughout the local area had been established by detectives from Bankstown Police Area Command in May.
“This won’t be resolved until police catch these kids in the act,” the male resident said.
“And I don’t think they ever will.”