Pressure mounts on Ashmore Plaza Shopping Centre body corporate to agree to pay half of security bill

Cafe owners are threatening legal action against the shopping centre’s body corporate. Here’s why.

CAFE owners struggling to make ends meet following COVID-19 restrictions are considering taking legal action if a security guard is not provided at Ashmore Plaza Shopping Centre.

Little Drip Cafe owner Nikki Norman and her partner Rob Lewis say they’re sick of customers being hassled by people who hang around the centre.

Previously the Bulletin has reported locals were avoiding the area, dubbing it “Trashmore” Plaza, because it was in a state of disrepair and customers were frequently verbally abused by “deros” from neighbouring supported accommodation facilities.

Little Drip Cafe owner Rob Lewis wants the body corporate at Ashmore Plaza to hurry up and agree to share security cost with other owner of the other side of the shops. Picture: Jerad Williams

Mr Lewis said over the weekend he had to step in to help a teenager and an older woman being hassled by a regular menace.

“Every shop owner is exactly the same and we’re already struggling to attract customers because of COVID-19. People are just boycotting this centre now because they don’t want to be abused or physically touched by strangers,” he said.

“Something has to be done because it’s impacting on everybody’s turnover. I’ve been speaking to my lawyer about legal action.”

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Ashmore Plaza Shopping Centre needs security to help keep away “trouble makers” says Rob Lewis of Little Drip Cafe. Picture: Jerad Williams

David Ross, facilities manager for the body corporate who owns half of the shopping centre, said he’d held meetings with a view to get a security detail happening next week.

“The commercially owned half of the centre, owned by Ray White, is happy to foot half of the $70-90k it will cost to have a full-time security guard,” he said.

“Now it’s up to the 33 individual lot owners, who form the body corporate, to agree to pay the rest. I’ve told them that they’ll lose tenants if they don’t.

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Ashmore Plaza Shopping Centre retailers are fed up with people loitering outside their centre all day. Picture: Jerad Williams

“Yes, it means they’ll have to put their hands in their pockets but if they don’t do it now retailers will leave the centre and they’ll still have to put their hands in their pockets.

“The number one priority should be the security of the retailers in the centre and their customers, having an on-site presence will ensure troublemakers are moved on.”

Mr Ross, of Diverse FMX, added that overdue maintenance at the centre, such as repairing leaks in the roof, were slowly being chipped away at.

He said if the body corporate voted yes to paying for half of the security guard, about $1000 per each lot owner, one would start “next Monday”.