Revealed: The Gold Coast hot spots for drug deals and hoons targeted for new CCTV cameras

New state-of-the-art CCTV cameras are to be rolled out at Gold Coast locations renowned for hooning and drug deals. FULL LIST >>>

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THE Gold Coast City Council and police will roll out new state-of-the-art CCTV cameras at Gold Coast hinterland hooning hot spots after tougher laws take effect.

Mudgeeraba MP Ros Bates has written to Mayor Tom Tate suggesting the council target locations renowned for hooning and drug deals.

But her complaints about the existing number of CCTV cameras in her electorate has sparked further tensions with area councillor Glenn Tozer, who accused her of “silly grandstanding”.

Police operation on hooning in the northern Gold Coast. Picture: Mike Batterham.

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Ms Bates said the Transport Road Safety Bill passed by the parliament meant the council could start trialling dedicated mobile camera units.

They allow police to take cars for offences including burnouts.

Ms Bates lists 16 hooning hot spots, including:

● Observatory Road, Reedy Creek.

● Hardy’s Road and Somerset Drive, Mudgeeraba.

● Worongary and Mudgeeraba roads, Worongary.

● Beechmont and Nerang-Murwillumbah roads, Advancetown.

● Natural Bridge entrance on Nerang-Murwillumbah Road.

● Austinville Road, Austinville.

● Corner Pine Creek and Nerang Murwillumbah roads, Numinbah Valley.

Crash site at Ormeau. Photograph: Jason O'Brien.

Ms Bates said some hooning locations, including the corner of Gooding Drive and Ghilgai Road at Merrimac, were renowned not just for car racing but drug deals.

“Hooning is the biggest issue in the hinterland, and our office regularly sends Hoon Watch forms to the police for action and information every week,” Ms Bates told Cr Tate.

“The police do what they can, but as you would be aware, hoons are aware of the response times and have sophisticated warning systems that allow them to abscond before the response patrols arrive.”

Ms Bates said Robina-based councillor Hermann Vorster had installed about 50 CCTV cameras in his division, but Division 9 had only two.

“Our area has been sorely neglected and my community is suffering from this neglect,” she wrote.

Mudgeeraba-based councillor Glenn Tozer said it was council’s advocacy, along with the Police Union, that brought changes to state laws.

“Cr Vorster and I work closely together, as evidenced by our shared resolution in July 2020 regarding CCTV,” Cr Tozer said.

Police and Yatala checking on drivers. Picture: Mike Batterham.

“The network of covert cameras in Division 9 and Division 11 remains just that – covert. Cameras in Division 9 were used just last week to assist a crime investigation.

“I won’t be drawn into Bates’ silly grandstanding, seeking to divide the communities of Division 11 and Division 9. People who choose to hoon or break the law should be aware it’s only a matter of time before our dedicated police or cameras catch them and prosecute them. Hooning is, and will remain, a state government issue.”

Mudgeeraba MP Ros Bates wants more CCTV cameras in the Gold Coast hinterland to stop hooning.

Mayor Tom Tate said he was backing Ms Bates’s tough stance on hooning and would work with police on resourcing.

“It is a scourge and our city will commit whatever resources we can to capture evidence to successfully prosecute these offenders,” he said.

“Covert CCTV is only one measure but it is extremely effective, especially now that the new state legislation means a car can be confiscated without necessarily requiring the identity of the driver.

“Our policy is to never reveal where the covert CCTV may be operating but my message to hoons is: your activities put other lives at risk and we will work with Queensland Police 24/7 to see an end to hooning in our city.”

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