Urgent fix for itinerant issue

THE chronic itinerant problem in Cairns is not going away and it’s time all parties involved came together and found a solution once and for all.

It can’t be put in the too hard basket and the touchy-feely approach is simply not working.

Groups of itinerants drinking, swearing, fighting, defecating, urinating and other unseemly behaviour is unacceptable. It gives our tourism destination a bad image.

The city’s business group, the chamber of commerce, is taking a lead. It doesn’t have all the answers but has made some suggestions.

One of them is the appointment of a return to country co-ordinator to ensure the itinerants attend their medical and other appointments, complete their “sorry” business and return home.

The representatives of the many Cape York communities and organsations, which have offices in Cairns, should start assisting their people on the ground in the city and not hide away in their offices.

The chamber is calling for the reintroduction of regular police patrols within the CBD from early evening onwards.

A Darwin resident, who has just moved to Cairns, has remarked about the lack of a police presence in the CBD: police on the beat, not driving around in cars. He says in Darwin police are everywhere, walking the streets, are highly visible and taking action when necessary.

Police say they have increased their CBD “high visibility bicycle patrols”, are constantly using the city’s CCTV network and 24 itinerants have been returned home under the “Return to Country” program.

But the chamber feels there is still not enough being done by all agencies concerned.

We want our delightful CBD back. Nick Dalton Deputy editor

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