It’s a problem child conundrum.
As kindergarten crooks continue their assault on Gold Coast neighbourhoods, it’s our own children who are now most at risk of becoming their next victims.
Residents in Miami and its surrounds are flooding social media pages with messages and photos warning neighbours of suspicious juveniles wandering the streets.
It’s little wonder, given that every day there are yet more posts about stolen cars and property – but where do we draw the line?
Some of these youths being pictured are literally just walking on the footpath, while other warnings concern tweens asking householders for a drink of water … is this actually illicit behaviour? Or are we becoming too trigger-happy in this suburban state of fear?
The truth is, I can’t blame my neighbours for thinking the former. There is far too much real crime and far too little real response to inspire confidence in frightened citizens.
Despite months of campaigning by residents – and even, eventually, from politicians – it seems the anti-social behaviour infecting Miami One shopping centre is only growing.
This weekend was a classic nightmare example.
On Saturday evening, a Japanese man who works at a local language school spoke to a group of teens loitering outside Coles who were abusing customers as they exited.
As one witness posted online: “They are obviously wasted or on drugs, the main one is just losing it at people and being totally menacing.”
But when the man attempted to speak to them, they broke his arm and stole his phone.
“He is physically and emotionally shattered,” says David Rogers, who runs the Miami Residents Community Group.
“He is now desperate to get back to Japan, it’s a sad indictment on the crime in Miami and the violence all residents have witnessed or heard about at Miami One.”
Mr Rogers has written to the shopping centre’s property managers at CBRE imploring for more action to be taken to ensure the safety of shoppers.
“Miami One is the shopping hub of our suburb. Unfortunately, it is clearly becoming more and more dangerous. It is fair for our residents to expect a certain level of safety while shopping at Miami One,” he wrote.
“I have had many concerned residents trying to come up with solutions to the trouble that is clearly being ignored in the centre. Many are prepared to take matters into their own hands due to the lack of action from centre management, this is something that should be very concerning to everyone, in particular CBRE.”
And this is what really makes me frightened. Not of the actual kindergarten crooks, but for my own children.
With the community understandably on tenterhooks, is this suburb still a safe place for kids?
While I simply can not imagine anyone being frightened of my teenage son – the kid who tends to injured geckos, who loves to do tricks on the trampoline, who sometimes even still holds my hand in public – he is growing tall and he does have teenage friends.
Together they ride their bikes to the IGA and sometimes the Miami servo for a cold slushie on a hot day … but I don’t know if I’m comfortable with that anymore.
Judging by the photos and descriptions online, anyone could decide he fits the profile of trouble … simply because he is a boy in a small group.
But I also know that something has to be done about the real kindergarten crooks. How can we be at the point where a good Samaritan suffers a broken arm?
The more dangerous the young crims become, the more dangerous the neighbourhood becomes for every child.
Action must be taken. But for the sake of all residents – and their children – that action must be taken by authorities, not vigilantes.
But judging by the reaction to the weekend’s incidents, time and patience is running out.
‘Gang of zombies’ crushing Coast’s biggest growth hopes
THIS is getting weird now.
Having just experienced one of the freakiest Fridays of my life, I’m feeling distinctly unsettled – and it’s a strange sensation understood by residents across the Coast.
My own bizarre scenario began at 4.30pm when I attended a house auction in an adjacent street.
I sensed something odd was afoot when I realised I was part of a literal gang of nosy neighbours marching to bear witness to this brave new world of buyers.
We deadset looked like a gang of zombies, mindlessly drawn to the property apocalypse. And indeed, there was a bloodbath to behold.
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Before our very eyes we watched as a small, scruffy home – the kind they advertise as “renovate or detonate” – and located on the wrong side of the Gold Coast Highway, sold under the hammer for $1.3 million.
My husband and I wandered home in a daze … What? Why? How?
For over an hour, the homeowners in our own street gathered in the cul-de-sac to ponder our property … along with our own existence. Was this real life? Who even are we?
But also … should we sell? Where would we go? What could we afford? What about the children? Will they live with us forever?
Still reeling from that unreal estate, my husband and I took advantage of a rare child-free night and went out to dinner – again, this is not regular programming.
We couldn’t be bothered to go hang with the young, hip and trendy of Nobbys so we decided to go west – into the deep, dark badlands of Robina.
As we arrived at our destination – the facility formerly known as the Robina Tavern – I realised I had entered another dimension.
Because Robina Pavilion was pumping. I mean, not-a-parking-space-for-blocks, line-out-the-door, selfie-flashes-like-paparazzi-on-2000s-Paris-Hilton insane.
I had to check my GPS to make sure this was really happening in … Robina?
That suburb and I have a long history … back in 1991, my parents bought a home in the quaintly and incorrectly named Robina Quays, at a time when that area was basically a newly renovated swamp.
Having just moved from Dallas, Texas, I was frightened. All of these empty, soulless houses and not a shop to be seen. When the IFS petrol station on Robina Parkway finally opened I was, literally, pumped.
Living in Robina became the inspiration for my ongoing interest in the development of our city. I am terrified of the vast nothingness that was life in the outer GC ’burbs of the early ’90s. Like nature, I abhor a vacuum.
Yet look at Robina now … all grown up. I have to say, I am so very proud of that little village – 30 years later, it’s really realised it’s potential.
But my question is … where is this all heading?
On the one hand, I think it’s awesome that a residential pocket like Robina can become its own hotspot – it’s no longer a sleepy satellite suburb but a self-sustaining village.
On the other, if restaurants in Robina are booked out and not-beachside shacks are selling for well over a million dollars, how much more room do we have to grow?
Is this freaky Friday snapshot of our city the new reality or a scene from a bubble that is bound to burst?
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No matter how many new arrivals are headed to our city, no matter how many jobs they are bringing with them, is this growth really sustainable?
How do we plan for the future when the alternative paths lead to divergent outcomes?
Which is why, when it comes to the Gold Coast’s contentious City Plan, the council have done the right thing to hit the pause button on growth.
Last week, councillors unanimously approved City Plan changes which slashed growth targets in Biggera Waters, Southport West and Labrador by 41 per cent.
That’s not to say that growth shouldn’t happen in those areas, and for the good of our city I’d far rather see higher density than urban sprawl, but let’s just take a minute to assess the scene before we barrel forwards.
We’re in a tricky spot – reduce growth and watch property prices rise ever higher, increase growth and suffer under the burden of overwhelmed infrastructure. Do we screw over those not yet on the property ladder (ie our children) or do we screw over those who bought into a dream that is now becoming a nightmare?
It seems a strange tactic, but slow and steady may well help us win this fast-paced race.
In these topsy-turvy times, strange is just the name of the game.
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