Revealed: the City’s plan to ensure Burleigh foreshore remains a national treasure

The City is launching a crackdown on the Burleigh foreshore to restore it as a “national treasure”.

A crackdown will be launched on illegal camping and crime on the Burleigh foreshore to restore it as a “national treasure”.

A petition has been sent to Gold Coast City Council from a Neighbourhood Watch group demanding authorities address concerns with campervans permanently parked on The Esplanade and residents fearing for their safety at night.

Residents stroll past some rubbish on the Burleigh Esplanade, while campers seem to be taking advantage of free parking spots and setting up camp on the Esplanade. Picture: Tertius Pickard

Area councillor Daphne McDonald backed by neighbouring councillor Hermann Vorster have received support of all councillors for officers to investigate and prepare a report into the issue.

The key will be council lobbying the state government for law changes enabling its officers to move-on campers – and to get more police on the ground at the tourism hot spot.

The toilet block in a park fronting a Gold Coast beach where homeless people had sex inside, sparking complaints from nearby residents.

Cr Vorster said the crackdown would see a more severe stance on illegal camping, problem parking and bad behaviour.

“But it also calls out the state rules which tie our hands behind our backs – requiring a police presence to get things done,’ he said.

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“Burleigh Heads is an Australian treasure and its reputation must be protected for the sake of locals and visitors.

“Right now it stands at a precipice and more needs to be done to keep it safe, clean and relaxed before it’s too late.”

The Bulletin in a report in January last year showed photographs of two homeless people camped in a toilet at North Burleigh. They were having sex while nippers arrived for training.

Traders in October urged the council to provide more lighting and expand its CCTV network after serious assaults saw the “laid back village” branded as “Brawl-eigh”.

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Billy Dean Fallon (shirtless) attacks a cleaner at Nightjar in Burleigh Heads in January this year. Picture: Supplied

Justin Lane general manager John Hall said concerns about violence – following recent assaults – had “reached a worrying crescendo”.

There were two vicious assaults outside Justin Lane and nearby Pink Monkey – one on September 25, left a 23-year-old man with a broken jaw and knocked out teeth.

The other on October 2 left a teen who was punched and hit his head on the pavement with skull fractures, brain bleeding and potential brain damage.

“There needs to be a concerted pushback against the anti-social behaviour plaguing the area, particularly at night-time,” Cr Vorster said.

Mayor Tom Tate brought down his 10th budget today at the Gold Coast City Council chambers at Evandale. Councillor Hermann Vorster. Picture Glenn Hampson

He and Cr McDonald are pushing for a seven-point plan to address locals’ concerns.

“This begins by asking council to formally acknowledge the cultural, social and economic value of the Burleigh Esplanade,” he said.

“It then proposed more resources to enforce our current local laws outside of business hours when issues are most acute.”

Palm Beach 18E Neighbourhood Watch team member Lance Edbrooke said he had met with Cr Vorster and supported council’s reform program which would give council more powers to control off-street parking.

Residents estimate up to 40 vans at various times have been parked on The Esplanade.

Campers on the Esplanade. Picture: Tertius Pickard.

“We require a permanent police presence. There’s some major, major problems,” Mr Edbrooke said.

“What I do see is a lot of aggression. This has been a family place. It appears the legislation doesn’t have the powers to move people on. We want this to be a safe and fair place for visitors.”

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