Sunshine Coast, Noosa’s dangerous shopping centres named

Sunshine Coast and Noosa shopping centres have become the backdrop of some of the region’s most vicious crimes with one recording 3866 incidents. It comes as fresh analysis has identified the area’s dangerous shopping centres - and who owns them. Full list.

The National Retail Association is calling for better support for staff after crime data revealed 245 assaults have been reported at Sunshine Coast and Noosa shopping centres in the past five years.

The latest crime statistics released by Queensland Police show how much crime has been reported between February, 2017 and February, 2022 in the vicinity of each shopping centre.

Sunshine Plaza can be revealed as having one of the highest amounts of reported offences in the region with more than 3860 crimes reported in the last five years to police.

The data revealed the three shopping centres in the Sunshine Coast and Noosa where the most offences have occurred are Sunshine Plaza in Maroochydore, Nambour Plaza and Kawana Shoppingworld in Buddina, respectively.

Sunshine Plaza. Picture: Patrick Woods.

The National Retail Association CEO Dominique Lamb said retail crime can cost Australia up to $9bn a year because every incident affects profitability, drives up the cost of goods and puts frontline staff in danger.

“Retail crime has a massive impact on all of us, not just our retailers,” Ms Lamb said.

“Incidences like theft, violence, aggression, abuse, sexual harassment and handling intoxicated people have become so common they are seen as ‘part of the job’.

“We estimate less than 20 per cent of incidents are reported to police.”

The National Retail Association works to advocate for better support and protection for retail staff and business owners.

Ms Lamb said it should not be the responsibility of retailers to prevent crimes happening to them.

CEO National Retail Association Dominique Lamb. Pictures Tara Croser.

“Retail crime is commonly seen as petty crime against stuff, and not people,” she said.

“But the real impacts are devastating for businesses, families and the economy.

“Unfortunately, retail crime does not warrant a strong police response, and perpetrators find retail workers, as the industry is one of the largest employers of women and young people, easy targets.

“It is up to our governments to provide better support and protection for retail to reduce the risk of harm to workers and costs on businesses.

“Everyone has the right to a safe work environment.”

The Sunshine Coast Daily has analysed crime data dating back to February, 2017 to see how dangerous shopping centres across the region are.

The data breaks down what types of offences have occurred during the five-year period, ranging from theft, assault to unlawful entry and traffic-related offences.

Find out who owns each centre and their plans on improving safety:

Sunshine Coast Plaza

Sunshine Plaza. Picture: Patrick Woods.

The Coast’s biggest shopping centre is owned jointly with Australian Prime Property Fund Retail and is managed by Lendlease.

Headquartered in Sydney, the real estate and investment group operates in Australia, Europe, Asia and the Americas.

The popular shopping centre in Maroochydore underwent a $430m redevelopment, completed in March, 2019, incorporating 330 tenancies.

Queensland Police data reveals 3866 offences were reported in the vicinity of Sunshine Plaza over a five-year period, including 104 assaults, 275 fraud offences, 21 robberies and 392 trespassing and vagrancies.

A Sunshine Plaza spokesman said said safety was always a top priority for management.

“As always, the safety and wellbeing of our customers, retailers and staff is our number one priority,” he said.

“The centre has a comprehensive security management program in place including entrance and in-centre CCTV surveillance, 24-hour security patrols seven days a week and on-site Police Beat.

“We provide training to our staff, retailers and upgrade systems as required.

“We work closely with the local police to ensure Sunshine Plaza remains a safe and enjoyable place for everyone.”

Nambour Plaza

Nambour Plaza on Ann St has recorded the second highest amount of crime reported to police in five years, with 1100 offences recorded.

Owned by PPI Funds Management, which has offices in Adelaide and Sydney, the firm purchased the property in 2009.

Crime data showed there were 52 assaults and 19 robberies reported in the area of Nambour Plaza, the second highest recorded for the region for both offences.

There were also 40 unlawful entries and 87 traffic related offences reported to police during the five years.

PPI Fund Management did not respond to questions before publication.

Nambour Plaza

Kawana Shoppingworld

The shopping centre with the third highest incidents reported to police is Kawana Shoppingworld in Buddina, with 910 offences reported in five years.

Owned and operated by Australian property group Mirvac, the Buddina shopping centre had the second highest amount of fraud matters, with 131 offences recorded by police.

The data also reveals 479 thefts reported, 33 assaults and 109 trespassing matters.

Kawana Shoppingworld Centre manager Robert Smith said the team is heavily focused on providing a safe environment for all visitors to the centre.

“We work closely with local police on a range of measures and our initiatives are very much ongoing,” he said.

“The safety of all of our customers, retail partners and team members are our highest priority and we are committed to continuing to partner with the authorities in an effort to prevent crime of any nature in our centre.”

Kawana Shoppingworld at Buddina.

Big Top Shopping Centre

The Big Top Shopping Centre was reportedly bought for $85m by LaSalle Investment Management Fund in 2015 from the Reed Property Group and the Kahlbetzer family.

The fund solely focuses on real estate investments and has projects all across the world.

The shopping centre is adjacent to Ocean St, the designated safe night entertainment precinct and a popular night-life location where police regularly patrol to prevent crime.

The data reveals the area surrounding Big Top Shopping Centre and the Ocean Street precinct had 694 offences recorded, including 48 assaults occur between 2017 and 2022.

There was also 24 fraud offences, 115 thefts and one robbery reported in the vicinity.

A Big Top Shopping Centre spokeswoman said the centre worked closely with police to ensure all patrons are safe.

“The safety and wellbeing of our Big Top Shopping Centre community is a top priority and something we take very seriously,” she said.

“This is why Big Top Shopping Centre is patrolled by a dedicated security team, in addition to an extensive CCTV network, with these measures bolstered by our close work with local police.”

Looking towards the Big Top Shopping Centre at Maroochydore.

Caloundra Shopping Centre

The Caloundra Shopping Centre on Bowman Rd is owned by Haben Property Fund.

The fund was established in 2009 and is a privately owned Australian property investment and funds management company.

The centre and surrounds recorded 535 offences in the five year period, including 50 fraud offences, 30 unlawful entries, 221 thefts and 15 assaults.

Haben did not respond to questions by time of publication.

Currimundi Market

The Currimundi Markets is owned and operated by Australian based property investment and management company Charter Hall.

The crime statistics show the centre and its vicinity reported 347 offences since 2017.

Those offences include 53 fraud offences, 90 thefts, 16 assaults and one shooting incident that left a man in hospital in 2018.

Charter Hall or centre management did not respond to questions by the time of publication.

Sunshine Coast Home

Sunshine Coast Home shopping centre on Maroochydore Rd, Maroochydore, is owned by Aventus Group.

The investment fund owns, manages and develops retail centres across the county.

Sunshine Coast Home and surrounding area recorded 332 offences between 2017 and 2022, including the highest amount of traffic related offences which totalled 139 incidents reported.

The crime statistics also show that there were 11 unlawful use of a vehicle in the vicinity recorded, 11 assaults and 41 thefts.

Aventus Group was also contacted before publication.

Noosa Civic

Stockwell Property Management Fund bought back the Noosa Civic shopping centre in August, 2018 for about $250m after previously selling the property to the Queensland Investment Corporation for $200m in 2012.

The fund has projects across the country, including the Noosa Civic Property Trust.

The Noosa Civic sits within a trade area home to 91,980 people, estimated to have a combined spending power of $1.3bn, which is forecast to grow by an average of four per cent per annum to reach $1.9bn by 2028.

Recent crime data reveals 291 offences were recorded in and around the centre, including 51 fraud matters, 178 thefts and five assaults.

A Noosa Civic spokeswoman said the safety and security of all visitors and staff at Noosa Civic was the main priority.

“The centre has a full time security team on site at all times the Centre is open,” she said.

“They are highly experienced and able to respond rapidly to any incidents which occur. They also work closely and collaboratively with our local police officers.

“External security lighting and additional security patrols operate throughout the night and an extensive network of CCTV cameras monitor internal and external areas of the Centre at all times.

“We regularly review our procedures and training.”

The Centrepoint Market Place Caloundra.

Centrepoint Market Place

The Centrepoint Market Place shopping centre was bought for $7.35m in November, 2021 by Shadforths Civil Contractors.

The company told the Sunshine Coast Daily in February his company purchased the Bulcock St site in Caloundra as a “long term” play and there were no immediate or medium term plans to redevelop the site.

Crime data shows the centre and surrounding area recorded 190 offences in five years, including four assaults, 28 fraud offences and 64 thefts occurring during that time.

Shadforth Civil Contractors did not respond in time to questions put to them by Sunshine Coast Daily.

Home Central Kawana

The retail precinct on Kawana Way in Birtinya is owned by JVL Investment Group and is the largest homemaker centre on the Coast.

The company’s portfolio reports in excess of $1bn worth of assets.

Its Kawana centre reported 139 offences between 2017 and 2022, including 10 frauds, two assaults and 94 thefts within the area.

JVL Investment Group did not respond to questions before deadline.

Home Central Kawana. Picture: Brett Wortman

Stockland Shopping Centres in Birtinya and Baringa

Stockland owns and operates 25 retail town centres as of June 2021, including shopping centres in Birtinya and Baringa.

The total amount of offences recorded for the surrounding areas of each shopping centre respectively are 69 and 39 offences, totally 108 offences reported to police in five years.

Traffic offences ranked the highest, with 55 traffic related offences being reported at Stockland Baringa and 16 similar offences occurring at Stockland Birtinya.

A Stockland spokeswoman said the safety and security of its customers, employees, tenants and contractors is taken seriously.

“Our Town Centre onsite security and centre management teams respond to any reports of anti-social behaviour quickly and liaise with local police where appropriate,” she said.

“In addition, our teams receive regular training to ensure the safety of our customers and management of issues are appropriately handled.”

Originally published as Sunshine Coast, Noosa’s dangerous shopping centres named