Miami residents raise concerns of motel ‘crime wave’ on Gold Coast
Fed-up residents of a Gold Coast suburb have launched a community campaign to gain support to remove “troubled clients” placed by the State Government in motels
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FED-UP Miami residents have launched a community campaign during the state poll to gain support to remove “troubled clients” placed by the State Government in motels.
The Miami Residents Group has demanded on its Facebook page, which has more than 1000 “likes”, that the Government abandon its current policy, saying “our community won’t accept the current level of crime and anti-social behaviour in our suburb”.
“As Miami residents who love our environment, we’ve had enough. We’ve had enough of these break-ins, drug and alcohol-fuelled outbursts, theft, violence, anti-social and other criminal behaviour,” the group said.
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“We’ve had enough of the State Government using local motels and short-term accommodation to house the homeless and the substance abusers, without providing the necessary resources to help address the problems, resources such as clinics, rehab, mental health care and facilities.
“The Government sees fit to dump these people in our suburb and leave us to deal with the consequences. Our residents have the right to walk the streets in safety without fear of harassment, to live in our homes without fear of them being robbed and vandalised, to visit our local shops without witnessing violence or being harassed for money.”
Community leaders believe their recent campaign has led to security at shopping centres increasing from 15 hours to 56 hours a week, police conducting regular walk-throughs of shops, and a raid occurring at a motel.
After a meeting with some residents, Mermaid Beach MP Ray Stevens updated his electorate with a direct mail-out on the crime issue.
The Bulletin understands the Government has been placing people with drug and mental health issues in short-term accommodation at motels along the Gold Coast Highway.
“It is important that I let you know that I am totally supportive of the community resolve to remove these troubled tenants from our peaceful residential community,” Mr Stevens wrote.
But he said the decision to use the motels for government clients was a Labor policy and only the Government could change it.
Mr Stevens said residents could make a choice to change the policy when they voted at the October 31 poll.
“The alternative premier of Queensland, Deb Frecklington, agrees with me that this undesirable practice should cease,” he wrote.
Mr Stevens told the Bulletin the LNP in government would find alternative accommodation, ensuring the motels were no longer used as temporary accommodation for people with health issues.
“It’s due to the lack of public housing that they don’t have places for these people,” he said.
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