Cairns diversionary centre construction starts: Disturbing photos of public drunkenness

Disturbing images of public drunkenness have painted a heartbreaking picture of Cairns as tourists swell into the city and authorities scramble to act.

DISTURBING images of public drunkenness have painted an ugly and heartbreaking picture of Cairns as tourists swell into the city and authorities scramble to act.

Cairns MP Michael Healy was on site as the sod was turned on a $4m expansion of the Lyons Street Diversionary Centre on Wednesday.

It has been a hard-fought project for a local politician who cops regular criticism over issues in the CBD with itinerants and anti-social behaviour.

A building start means the Anglicare-run centre will be upgraded from 36 beds to a 50-bed facility, including the development of a new women’s wellbeing space.

“The service delivered here at the Lyons Street Diversionary Centre helps some of the most vulnerable people in the Cairns community,” Mr Healy said.

“The centre is a safe place for people who are at risk of harm from intoxication in public places or incarceration, and provides a supportive, respectful environment for them to help address and overcome long-term substance issues.

“Once completed early next year, the expansion will increase the level of support services in the Cairns community.”

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The long-awaited construction start came just a day after Crave Cairns restaurateur Gayle Allen photographed a twisted pile of unconscious men surrounded by filth in the CBD.

The alarming sight coincides with an upswing in tourists arriving in Cairns during school holidays.

Ms Allen said the situation was not at all uncommon.

“This is our city at night,” she said.

“How do you think anyone will set up businesses again in the CBD, having to deal with this on a daily basis night and day time.

“This is what our tourists are looking at – something to go back and tell their friends.

“I’ve said it before so many times.

“If the city doesn’t get cleaned up and activated we are heading to be another Alice Springs.”

Vinnies Queensland last year estimated there were 2300 homeless people in Cairns, among 13,700 regional rural Queenslanders facing the brunt of a housing crisis.

It is unclear whether the men pictured were homeless, but city traders have been complaining about an apparent upswing in itinerants causing problems and messes near their places of business.

Scubapix owner Peter Mooney told the Cairns Post in March the city was being used as a public toilet – and police admitted it was a very difficult prospect to charge someone with public urination without catching them in the act.

Either way, the upgraded diversionary centre is aimed at fixing some of the issues.

The state government has also committed an extra $6m over four years to increase the delivery of public intoxication services in Cairns, including an expansion of a community patrol service.

Housing Minister Leeanne Enoch that on top of the $3.7m provided to Anglicare this financial year to deliver public intoxication services in Cairns.

“This program forms part of our commitment to deliver safe and person centred, respectful services to people at risk of harm from public intoxication,” she said.

Anglicare North Queensland operations manager Evan Martin the building design was locked down.

“Expanding capacity will increase the ability to adhere to the Aboriginal Deaths in Custody Report and value add to the core function of Lyons Street Diversionary Centre, which is diverting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people away from the justice system,” he said.

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Originally published as Cairns diversionary centre construction starts: Disturbing photos of public drunkenness