Fed-up residents have uncovered a secret facility housing youth criminals released on bail

A secret suburban facility housing youth criminals on bail was only uncovered by Gold Coast residents when crime started to spike. See where and its status

Youth bail facility uncovered in Southport.

Youth criminals at ‘high risk’ of reoffending were secretly bailed to a facility metres from a retirement home and vulnerable elderly residents.

The ‘youth bail facility’ at Southport, run by Anglicare Southern Queensland, was shut down by Gold Coast City Council once discovered.

The proposed youth bail facility at Southport was formerly used as an aged care home. Picture: Thomas Siddle

Nearby resident Thomas Siddle said the community didn’t know about the Heath St facility until a noticeable increase in crime.

“It’s crazy, people already feel threatened. We’re dead against it. We’ve already witnessed big screaming matches going on, something happened where the fire brigade had to show up,” he said.

After complaints Gold Coast City Council attended the facility and issued Anglicare a show cause notice for operating without relevant approvals.

The organisation has now lodged a development application to council to reopen. Those plans were only revealed to residents when a sign was placed on the fence, according to Mr Siddle.

“It’s just been thrown at us. They’ve done it on the sly, they’ve put the DA in. No one knows what’s really happening and we’ve got until the 16th to make submissions.”

Residents only became aware of the development application after a sign was erected at the site. Picture: Thomas Siddle

In its application, Anglicare says the site will cater for up to 10 youths in an intensive youth bail program.

Proposed operating hours are 8am-8pm Monday to Wednesday, closing at 10pm all other nights. It’s unclear whether the juveniles will live at the property with shower, toilet and laundry facilities plus clothing and food parcels, the development application states.

In a recent submission to a state parliament committee investigating the response to youth crime, Anglicare said its intensive youth bail program supports 10-17 year olds “at significant risk of serious and long-term offending”.

An aged care home and residential high-rise apartments neighbour with the facility. Picture: Thomas Siddle

Objections to the Southport site have already been lodged with council. Resident Bernadette Fulton said the community believed there were more suitable locations for the program.

“Why did they put it in a dense residential area they know contains a large cohort of elderly and retired. Other facilities we know of are in commercial areas, not in the suburbs,” she said.

“It has already been operating. How do they justify that? They should have known better.”

Ms Fulton said the community were most concerned about late operating hours for the centre on weekends and what would happen to juveniles when the doors close at night.

“Everything closes down here. it’s a really quiet area. If they’re turfed out at ten o’clock how are they going to get home? If they just want to roam the streets, who is going to stop them? It’s not a good idea to have youngsters like this loitering.”

Anglicare Southern Queensland says prior operation of the facility was an error and is being rectified. Picture: Thomas Siddle

Anglicare Southern Queensland said operation of the facility prior to council approval is “understood” to have been an oversight.

“We are committed to ensuring the safety of residents and the broader community,” it said.

“Our work focuses on early intervention and diversionary support. Anglicare is here to support young people to live positive lives, through positive role modelling, reconnection to community through schools and employment, and reunification with family.”

Public submissions on the application closed on Thursday, November 16.