Calls for more lighting and CCTV in Gold Coast parks to protect women at night

A FOCUS on safety in poorly-lit, Gold Coast parks is growing as with calls for more lighting, CCTV and beefed-up security to protect vulnerable women at night.

Poorly lit parks are now under the spotlight. Picture: Jerad Williams

PUBLIC safety in poorly-lit parks is under the spotlight with calls for more lighting and beefed-up security to protect vulnerable women at night.

The issue raised its head after local women expressed their fears about walking in the dark to their cars through public areas such as Carey Park at Southport. It has also sparked calls for women to be vigilant in parks.

Rosemary O’Malley, chief executive of the Gold Coast Domestic Violence Prevention Unit, said safety in parks was ‘a major issue’ for women and Acting Mayor Donna Gates has thrown her weight behind all initiatives to make parks safer for women.

Poorly lit parks are now under the spotlight. Picture: Jerad Williams

Coomera MP Michael Crandon is concerned about the safety of women at railway station car parks in the north and has presented petitions to Parliament, while Division 3 councillor Cameron Caldwell has introduced the first CCTV at Paradise Point, with a mobile CCTV on the way for potential hot spots.

“As a female and someone who enjoys the amazing open space we have right across our city, we all need to remain vigilant, which is the same rule — no matter where we are in the world,” Cr Gates said.

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“As acting mayor, I support every initiative to make our parks safer. We are doing that through improved lighting, increased CCTV and park maintenance to make sure low-hanging trees are trimmed to a height that gives park users clear vision of their surrounds,” she said.

“Other initiatives include liaising with Neighbourhood Watch groups about suburb-specific issues and ensuring our city’s walkways are well lit.”

Acting Mayor Donna Gates has backed all initiatives to make parks safer at night for women. Photo: Jerad Williams

Cr Gates said safety audits or Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design assessments were being carried out regularly at city parks undergoing design changes and upgrades.

“These assessments look at elements such as enhancing casual surveillance, better lighting, minimising entrapments around buildings, CCTV installations and activating sites so that there are more people around to deter inappropriate behaviour,’ she said.

“In 2012, we established the city’s first Safer Suburbs Forum and this continues today. We bring together every agency with an interest in community safety to share ideas and support one another.”

These included Red Cross, Neighbourhood Watch, Queensland Police and council’s Safe and Liveable Communities Branch.

Some Coast parks are poorly lit. Picture: Jerad Williams

“Carey Park has had an issue with the homeless and we are working hard with various charities to help them with their complex, ongoing issues,” she said.

Ms O’Malley said she was very concerned about the safety of women in Gold Coast parks.

“This is a major issue and we have to do all we can to deal with it,” she warned. “Local and state government should be doing everything they can to improve public safety for women.

“Over the years, we’ve had some good collaboration with Gold Coast City Council and we would be happy to be included in any (further) discussions about women’s safety in parks,” she said.

Ms O’Malley welcomed funding to keep women safe but she said this was only part of the solution.

“I find it incredibly sad that we have to deal with this,” she said.

“But until we as a community start addressing the underlying issues of why women aren’t safe walking through parks at night, it’s appropriate that external mechanisms such as improved lighting are put in place.”

There are calls for more CCTV at Coast parks.

Southport councillor Dawn Crichlow confirmed the wheels were in motion to make Carey Park safer for women and she promised to investigate improved lighting.

“We’ve had complaints about people hanging around there, which is why we stopped trucks going there to feed people during the Commonwealth Games. We’ve now stopped these trucks altogether,” she said.

Coomera MP Michael Crandon said there was an issue with women’s safety at railway station car parks and a lack of secure parking in the northern corridor.

“For example, we have an area near bush that is used as an overflow car park for Ormeau Railway Station,” he said. “It has no security cameras or lighting and at this time of year, it gets dark early.

“That means women are walking back to their cars in this dark, unsecured area and I believe they are vulnerable.”

Coomera MP Michael Crandon is concerned about women’s safety in car parks.

He said he had had many complaints from commuters and parents of university students who were worried about the lack of security.

“In the past year, I’ve written to Transport Minister Mark Bailey and run petitions but the response from the Minister each time been a flat ‘no’,” Mr Crandon said.

Division 3 councillor Cameron Caldwell said every resident had the right to feel safe in parks and public areas, which was why he had installed the first CCTV in Paradise Point — at Boat Harbour Park.

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“We have also funded a mobile CCTV camera in this year’s budget to be placed in potential hot spots,” he said.

“CCTV acts as an important deterrent and helps catch offenders. This has already happened with our new camera at Hope Harbour Park, which has footage of a car driving away from a recent break and enter. Hopefully, this will help police secure a conviction.

“CCTV sends the message to anyone who might be thinking about doing the wrong this that it is simply not on and you will get caught,” he warned.

When approached for comment, Queensland Police referred residents to its website which contains a range of safety tips. Visit police.qld.gov.au/programs/cscp/personalSafety/default.htm.