Cairns boardwalk dining precinct businesses plea for security patrols

A security ‘black spot’ along the city’s premier waterfront precinct is causing chaos for businesses, with the area becoming a target for attacks against patrons, staff and property.

Paul Harris has owned the Blu Marlin Bistro at the Cairns Marlin Marina for six years, and has seen crime along the waterfront boardwalk dining precinct increase exponentially in that time. Picture: Brendan Radke

A security “black spot” along the city’s premier waterfront precinct is causing chaos for businesses, with the area becoming a target for attacks against patrons, staff and property along with anti-social behaviour.

The Harbour Lights Retail Body Corp, which represents award-winning restaurants including Ochre Restaurant, Dundees on the Waterfront and Ollie’s Italian, has been pushing for beefed up security measures on the boardwalk strip for months.

The area has some security patrols managed by the landholder Ports North but is not part of the council’s City Safe program.

Last year the restaurants funded their own security patrols at a cost of almost $60,000 following an incident in July, which saw Ochre staff allegedly strangled and stabbed in the neck with a pottery shard, causing two employees to be hospitalised.

Cairns Regional Council security officers do not patrol the waterfront dining precinct as its Ports North managed land. Picture: Brendan Radke

Ochre owner Craig Squire said since the patrols ended about six months ago, after it became unaffordable for the businesses to continue funding, anti-social behaviour had returned.

“We’re talking about the premium dining and tourism precinct in Cairns and it’s a black spot as far as patrolling and CCTV go,” he said.

“We’ve had issues with patrons being hit on the outdoor dining tables, we’ve had staff attacked, we’ve had furniture thrown in the water, furniture broken.”

Blu Marlin Bistro owner Paul Harris, whose business has been broken into multiple times in recent months, said more foot security was needed.

Paul Harris wants to see Ports North, the Cairns Regional Council and the state government work together to find a solution to the anti-social behaviour. Picture: Brendan Radke

“We’re not part of the council’s Safe Night Precinct but we’re only just next door,” he said.

“I strongly believe if we were part of it some of these issues would dissipate.

“Ports North are doing everything they can and their hands are tied. There just need to be more of a collective effort between them, council, state and federal governments.”

Ports North chief executive Richard Stevenson said the current security measures included Ports North staff on site 24/7, CCTV and “additional physical security patrols” during peak periods.

“Ports North also has a well established relationship with the QPS who are called upon to provide assistance and respond to incidents when required,” he said.

Ports North CEO Richard Stevenson. Picture: Brendan Radke

“We are engaging with council on some potential enhancements to surveillance and physical security presence however this has proven to be more complex than expected.

“Notwithstanding, Ports North continues discussions with council along with ongoing investment into options that enhance security needs throughout the port areas including the Marlin Marina.”

A Cairns Regional Council spokesman said the council was in discussions with Ports North “to determine how the two organisations can work more closely together moving forward”.

While negotiations between the two parties stretch over several months, frustrations are building among the businesses who believe the boardwalk has become known as an easy target among repeat youth offenders.

Managing director of the Wilson Group Joan Wilson with new head chef of Ela Drink + Meze Jerome Kiers. The new restaurant along the Esplanade Dining Precinct is due to open in the coming months. Picture: Supplied/Hart Creative Co

Harbour Lights Retail Body Corporate chair Joan Wilson – who also owns Ollie’s Italian and will soon open Ela, a new restaurant on the boardwalk – said it was frustrating to see offenders “face no repercussions through the court system”.

“We sit on Ports North land however as owner occupiers we also pay council rates,” she said.

“We have asked Cairns Regional Council and Ports North to work together to provide on-foot security (as we see in other areas of the city) and have CCTV monitored.”

Ms Wilson said the two organisations hadn’t been able to come to an agreement after twelve months of engagement.

“Who would have thought that local government and state government couldn’t be on the same page about a situation that greatly affects local business, our city and tourism which we all heavily rely on for income and jobs,” she said.

“The cruise ship visitors walk along this same boardwalk – it’s only a matter of time before a cruise boat visitor is hurt. What are the potential outcomes from that?”

Originally published as Cairns boardwalk dining precinct businesses plea for security patrols