Drug den with Vapes, bongs and nangs found next to key Robina development site
A bong-filled drug hovel discovered on the outskirts of a multi-tower Gold Coast mega development has sparked calls for a major crackdown.
Police & Courts
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A BONG-filled drug hovel discovered near the future site of the 2032 Olympic Games athletes village has sparked calls for the Premier to step in and clean up Robina.
Numerous drug dens have been razed across the central Gold Coast in recent weeks, with several found in public parks and next to Varsity College, one of the city’s most elite schools.
With increasing focus on the future of Robina as it prepares to stand on the world stage, area councillor Hermann Vorster has written to Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk asking for help to clean up the suburb.
Ms Palaszczuk, through her position as Premier, is a ministerial shareholder in Queensland Investment Corporation, which owns Robina Town Centre and several large development sites around the suburb.
“Premier, one of these sites located off Edgewater Court along the Riverwalk frontage has become a sordid scene with drug implements strewn across the ground and nearby residents are fed up and say the hovel attracts the worst types of anti-social behaviour,” he wrote in his letter.
“The wonderful residents of the Riverwalk community have been particularly affected by the activity at the site complaining of ‘yelling, swearing and smoking’ on weekend afternoons and evenings and often through the week as well.
“Speaking personally, I am frustrated with the upkeep of this property and feel it has been neglected for years, so no wonder it has been afflicted by substance abuse (and on the doorstep of a Defence Jobs Australia recruitment centre no less).”
Cr Vorster’s letter pleas for the state government to ramp up efforts to clean up Robina.
“There is growing community discontent about the upkeep of reserves and property ultimately owned by the state government in this part of Robina, raising questions about how these State Government assets will be presented closer to the Games,” he said.
“The purpose of this letter is to bring these concerns to your attention, and to enlist your support in my ongoing campaign to clean up our streets and deter troublemakers ruining this wonderful part of the Gold Coast.”
Robina will be home to one of the athletes villages which will be used during the Games and will see multiple towers built to house competitors.
The village is at the heart of a dispute between the Gold Coast City Council and the state government over what form the development will take and its traffic impact on the suburb’s narrow and already congested roads.
Robina Town Centre general manager Kathleen Hart responded on behalf of Queensland Investment Corporation, insisting the “safety and wellbeing” of the Robina community was “top priority and something we take very seriously”.
“This is why we pride ourselves on providing a clean, safe and well-maintained environment for locals, visitors and staff.
“We regularly engage with Councillor Vorster and his office regarding sites we manage in Robina, and also speak regularly with neighbouring residents,” she said.
“The issues raised by Councillor Vorster have not previously been raised with QIC, and to our knowledge aren’t an accurate representation of the condition of the sites owned by QIC.
“We continue to actively engage with neighbours and Councillor Vorster about community feedback on relevant sites at Robina.”
Vapes, bongs, nangs: Drug den discovered near elite Coast school
Gold Coast parents have been warned to keep their children away from a drug den just metres away from one of the city’s most elite schools.
A Varsity Lakes shelter shed is being targeted in a council crackdown on drug usage in the area, with CCTV cameras redeployed to overlook the troubled spot and vegetation ripped out.
Evidence of a “trifecta” of anti-social behaviour, including chroming, vaping and drug usage has been found near the high-end Varsity College.
City leaders are warning the shed itself may be ripped down if the problem gets worse.
Area councillor Hermann Vorster said the council was working closely with police to deal with the problem but said parents had a role to play.
“It was vital to work with local police and our parks team to properly scope the safety
intervention,” he said.
“Quite quickly we uncovered discarded vapes, bongs, nangs and alcohol containers making this the Bermuda Triangle of troubled souls.
“None of us wanted to see this family parkland turned over to spaced out troublemakers so near to a school.
Cr Vorster said the costs were more than just social with ratepayers picking up the bill for deliberate damage.
“Thousands have been spent cleaning up after fires, repairing cladding, and painting over some of the most violent graffiti I have encountered.
“It’s chilling to think what kids were exposed to before these issues were reported.”
The Gold Coast City Council spends about $1m each year removing graffiti across the city, with tens of thousands more committed to repairing damage left by vandals.
It comes as a frustrated Mayor Tom Tate ramped up his calls for a youth crime summit to deal with the growing issue.
“Clearly, something isn’t working when you have repeat offenders back on the streets, stealing cars and breaking into homes again – often within 24 hours of release,” he said.
“I understand it is a complex issue. The majority of solutions rest with State and Federal agencies.
“My call for a youth crime summit is so the decision makers can hear the anger, frustration and fear of communities first-hand because it isn’t just the Gold Coast, this is a statewide issue but I want to stamp it out here as it is damaging our city reputation.
“Overall, we are an extremely safe city but perception is powerful and currently, it appears a hardened group of around 50 young offenders are running amok, despite the exceptional work of police.
The mayor has called on the state government to work with the council on a range of issues including:
* Holding a community hall meeting with one agenda item: youth crime;
* Amend legislation to enforce the application of GPS trackers for these known offenders and the introduction of minimum mandatory sentencing.
* Increase police numbers on the coast – permanently;
* Amend the Bail Act to ensure youth offenders, brought before the courts, cannot be released back on to the streets;
* Invest in specific in-prison courses and support for youth (once detained) to help them deal with the complex social/mental health issues that may be a precursor to their criminal behaviour.
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