Helensvale is the Gold Coast’s new hoon hangout as youths race on a 5km loop circuit

THIS Gold Coast suburb is the new hoon hangout with youths using a 5km loop circuit to do burn outs and reach high speeds, causing a nightmare for nearby residents.

Police pull over a car during a traffic operation. Picture Mike Batterham

HELENSVALE is the new hoon hangout with youths using a 5km loop circuit around the Gold Coast Hinterland suburb.

LNP Broadwater candidate David Crisafulli yesterday welcomed his party’s announcement of a clampdown on hoons, where they would lose their licences and have to complete community service programs.

He revealed the proposed laws would be a godsend for residents in suburbs like Helensvale dealing with the after-hours traffic nightmare.

“It’s unbelievable and unacceptable in such a relaxed part of the Gold Coast that we can have residents at their wits end because of hoons flouting the law,” Mr Crisafulli said.

LNP Broadwater candidate David Crisafulli pictured at the drag racing suburban circuit at Helensvale.

“We aren’t talking about someone unknowingly going a few kilometres over the limit or losing control over their vehicle we are talking about hoons using the area as a racetrack and a burnout pad.

“Roads that are used by law abiding families aren’t the place for wannabe race car drivers to test their vehicles.”

After doorknocking residents, Mr Crisafulli was briefed on “the big loop” where hoons leaving the Pacific Motorway access Helensvale Road and link up with Monterey Keys Drive on a return trip west through Hope Island.

LNP Broadwater candidate David Crisafulli is calling for a crackdown in hooning.

A photograph taken of tyre marks from a recent burnout confirms the worst fears of residents.

The burnouts apart from waking families at night is occurring on poorly lit blind corners in their suburban streets.

Mr Crisafulli strongly supports the tougher laws and has been lobbying for more police to ensure hoons were caught and their cars impounded.

“When you have police stretched to the limit things fall through the cracks,” he said.

“We need to bolster the resources for our police and we need to give them the laws to ensure the same repeat offenders don’t turn up time and time again.”

Councillor William Owen-Jones welcomes more policing in his Helensvale division. Photo: David Clark

Area councillor William Owen-Jones said he was aware of complaints about hooning and council was taking what action it could on a policing issue which required State Government funding.

The council had placed a speed awareness device for three months in the suburb in a bid to get drivers to lower their speeds.

Another two of the three-month trials using the mobile units will be staged at Monterey Keys Dr.

Speeding drivers are warned to slow down and those keeping to the traffic limit get a welcome smiley face on the billboards.

“The devices can change driver behaviour over time. I look forward to Mr Crisafulli advocating for more police in our area,” Cr Owen-Jones said.