Police service budget blowout delays Burleigh Heads police beat
Long-suffering Burleigh residents and workers facing anti-social behaviour and crime are in limbo despite promises for permanent beefed up police resources. READ WHY IT’S BEEN PARKED
Gold Coast
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A giant Queensland Police Service budget blowout is being blamed for a likely delay to a promised new dedicated police presence in Burleigh, police sources have revealed.
The signature election commitment by the LNP and newly-elected Burleigh Heads MP Hermann Vorster for a dedicated police beat in the increasingly troubled idyllic suburb faces seeing little movement until the end of the financial year.
“It’s not their (state government’s) fault,” a senior officer from the southern Gold Coast said.
“They weren’t to know the service had a diabolic financial situation. The police beat will come, we just have to wait for the new financial year so the government can lock in the funding.
“I’d rather be in this situation than the alternative where we have no commitment for a facility that we need.”
The police beat at Burleigh Heads was part of a $4.1 million dollar community safety pledge by Mr Vorster ahead of the October state poll.
About $600,000 was set aside for it, with $2 million committed to restore cuts to the number of officers in the area and more funding to go towards a liquor accord and expanding CCTV.
“Anti-social behaviour and crime has gripped the streets of Burleigh,” Mr Vorster said at the time.
“The LNP has announced a comprehensive plan to protect beautiful Burleigh. It will mean a permanent police presence in Burleigh village.”
The funding commitment ultimately helped secure a victory for the LNP in the seat.
But two days after the election, the Bulletin revealed police officers across the state were being directed to dramatically cut costs as the QPS (QPS) faced a $200 million budget blowout four months into the new financial year.
Police sources blamed the poor financial position on a decision by the QPS to sign a lease for a new station near Brisbane worth a reported $240 million, without funding approvals.
Since the election commitment by the LNP, violence has continued on the southern Gold Coast with two boys hospitalised on Australia Day with horrific injuries in a teen gang bashing near the Burleigh Heads Hotel. A fortnight later a man was punched to the ground at nearby Rotary Park in a late night robbery.
On Monday, Mr Vorster spoke in social media video posts to reiterate the state government’s commitment to a police beat. He then called on his constituents to lobby the QPS for action to address the immediate community crime concerns.
“Our commitment means more police right here in Burleigh Heads and extra resources on Friday and Saturday nights,” Mr Vorster said.
“In the meantime I know that there are some trouble spots that need some attention. So let’s work together to get a mobile police beat delivered right here in Burleigh.”
He then urged residents to visit the QPS website to make a request for the Mobile Police Beat.
Mr Vorster reiterated the his commitment to a police beat in a statement to the Bulletin: “LNP Government will deliver a permanent police beat in Burleigh. This is my number one priority, and it will be delivered. It will happen. Only the LNP will restore safety here in Burleigh.”
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