Division 1 candidate Mark Hammel announces plan to fight crime and hooning on far northern Gold Coast

26 March 2020

Division 1 candidate Mark Hammel will, if elected, lobby the State Government to fast-track construction of the new Pimpama police hub, and ensure it has more police officers to fight rising levels of crime and hooning on the far northern Gold Coast.

Mr Hammel said construction had not yet started on the police hub, which had an expected completion date of 2021. He said an empty block of land was doing nothing to keep communities safe in Division 1 now.

Mr Hammel said he would be calling on the State Government to keep the new Pimpama police hub open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

“More than 2600 offences were recorded by Queensland Police in Division 1 in the past year, with more than 90 per cent of that crime occurring in the suburbs of Pimpama, Ormeau and Ormeau Hills,” he said.

 “The Pimpama police hub is a fantastic addition to Division 1 and very much welcomed by the local community, but in all honesty, it should have already been built - it’s about a decade overdue.

“I understand 37 police officers are to be based in the new Pimpama police hub, but after my conversations with current officers, they are saying it’s not enough and doesn’t allow for future growth. They need around 50 officers to cover the northern Gold Coast effectively, so, if I’m elected, I’ll make a lot of noise at a State level to make that happen.

“Due to the geographical size of Division 1 - and increasing rates of crimes such as burglary and car break-ins - more officers are required and we need to be strengthening our police force now because our problems with crime are only going to grow with our booming population.”

Mr Hammel said there were already concerns amongst the local community that once the Pimpama police hub opened, police beats in Norfolk Village and Jacobs Well would be earmarked for closure.

“That won’t be happening on my watch,” he said.

“It is just not possible for the Pimpama police hub to effectively cover an area as geographically large and diverse as Division 1 – we need our satellite police beats to stay open.

“I’ll actually be calling for these police beats to be better resourced so they can conduct patrols in our communities at busy times such as Friday evenings and across the weekend.

“Norfolk Village police beat, for example, is currently lifting well over its weight by having only two police officers to cover the 20,000 residents in Ormeau and its surrounds. If it was better resourced, it could cover Ormeau, Yatala and the northern cane fields quite effectively.

“Police beats are embedded in - and critical to - having a police presence in our smaller communities, and also work closely with our schools and other community and sporting groups to ensure our youths remain engaged.

“The new Pimpama police hub working together with the two police beats in Jacobs Well and Norkolf Village would ensure police officers can adequately cover Division 1 and keep residents safe.”

Mr Hammel said after speaking with thousands of residents, speeding and hooning was also a major issue for Division 1 residents.

He said he would also fight for an increased number of fixed and mobile CCTV cameras and better lighting in public areas throughout Division 1.

“CCTV networks have been proven to be effective with around 10,000 apprehensions recorded since they were rolled out across the Gold Coast,” he said.

“If elected, I’ll lobby State Government to increase the presence of mobile and fixed CCTV networks on our local streets to deter dangerous driving.

“We need the right mix of fixed and mobile CCTV units to combat the major issue of speeding and hooning in areas such as Halfway Drive and Pascoe Road in Ormeau and William Boulevard and Dixon Drive in Pimpama.

“By the end of my first term, I will aim to deliver 10 fixed CCTV camera units in areas of Division 1 where they are most needed,” he said.

“I will also commit to funding multiple mobile CCTV cameras for Division 1 out of divisional funding.  I believe these mobile networks are hugely important to covering such a geographically large and diverse division with unique crime issues in residential, industrial and rural areas.

“I'll also be encouraging council to adopt better urban planning practices for new developments, which would include fixed CCTV in high-traffic areas, as well as speed bumps, islands and roundabouts.”