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A dedicated drinking centre, youth connectors and advocacy for more homeless shelters are among a range of interventions set out in a council plan to address anti-social behaviour.
The four-year plan was unanimously endorsed by Cairns Regional councillors at this week’s Planning and Environment Committee meeting.
It will initially focus on those sleeping rough, who account for almost half of anti-social incidents recorded over the past five years.
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“Historically, behaviours in the CBD relate to sleeping in public, public intoxication, and criminal or intimidating behaviours of some groups,” the document reads.
“Behaviours are varied and on a scale of severity, ranging from begging, rough sleeping and being drunk and disorderly in a public place to serious criminal offences such as assault and theft.
“This contributes to the challenge of managing public spaces in line with the rights, values and needs of all users.”
Councillor Amy Eden, who’s division covers Cairns city and the inner suburbs, said antisocial behaviour is not new to the city.
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“It’s a wicked problem, but we can better manage it and better mitigate it,” she said.
“That’s exactly what we’re going to do with our Community Safety Plan.
“We have heard the pleas of our business community, our mums and dads, and our tourists.
“It is time to try something different.”
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Over the past five years an average 1,000 incidents of anti-social behaviour per month were recorded under Council’s City Safe program, with 48 per cent related to those sleeping rough.
They are among the current priority groups that have been identified, along with adults drinking or intoxicated in public and unaccompanied youth.
Cairns Mayor Bob Manning said the council already spends more than $3 million each year in CBD safety measures.
“[This] includes CCTV equipment and monitoring, security patrols and CBD support staff, that make an invaluable contribution to the effectiveness of joint community safety approaches in the CBD,” he said.
“However, more can be done to understand and address this complex issue and Council wants to be part of the solution.”
14 intervention options are described in the document.
Among them is advocacy for a ‘Wet Centre’ – a designated drinking area.
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“There are numerous models ranging from day wet centres to full transition sites that are culturally appropriate and incorporate rough camping and onsite service hubs intended to support people into longer term sustainable housing,” it says.
For rough sleepers, the establishment of a discreet hotel or site to be known as ‘That Place’ will also be advocated for.
“With increased demand on social housing and levels of private rental affordability and availability at an all-time low, there is a severe shortage of cost-effective and secure options,” the document says.
“There is a need to continue to advocate for the Department of Housing to explore the acquisition of a standing accommodation venue in Cairns.”
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Also under the draft, a pilot of Youth Connectors will take place to monitor the patterns of movement of unaccompanied minors, the results of which will be shared with other services.
“The Youth Connectors will carry out proactive street-based engagement outside of standard business hours with young people,” the draft explains.
“The YCs will draw on the capacity and intelligence of the City Safe security resources.”
It also calls for more shelter beds for young people, citing that there are few options for youth who are assessed as being at risk if they are returned home out of hours, with crisis accommodation not extending to all age groups and genders.
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Training of staff on how to deal with people with mental health issues or illnesses that lead to anti-social behaviours will also take place under the plan.
Last year alone, there were 176 incidents where Council security guards were required to physically restrain or detain and in 27 of these, security staff required medical treatment.
The plan will also aim for collaboration with both government and non-government agencies, such as the Queensland Police Service, Queensland Health, Anglicare, Mission Australia, Youthlink and the YETI Diversionary team.
Main points
- Cairns councillors have unanimously endorsed a bold plan to tackle anti-social behaviour in the CBD
- It involves a designated ‘wet’ centre and advocacy for more shelter beds, particularly for youth
- Those sleeping rough were involved in almost half of all anti-social incidents recorded over the past five years
