Coast hoons the focus

New cameras to combat area’s revhead scourge

A GOLD Coast councillor is spending $130,000 on the city’s first anti-hooning cameras because the problem is turning families off the area.

Cr Hermann Vorster said he was fielding dozens of calls a week from would-be home buyers as well as locals.

“People who are thinking about renting or purchasing a home contact me, inquiring if it’s a hoon hotspot, because they want to avoid living or purchasing near where its happening,” Cr Vorster said.

“The problem is escalating, tempers are at boiling point and residents expect something to be done.”

The network of cameras is a new initiative for the city. Previously a single camera had been used in suburbs. The seven new state-of-the-art cameras sit 6m off the ground and will be installed permanently at major hoon hot spots including:

● The intersection of Cheltenham Dr and Robina Parkway. ● Intersection of Layers Dr and Collyer Quays.

● Cottesloe Dr near Bond University.

● Ron Penhaligon Way.

● University Dr, near the roundabout at Geraldton Dr.

● Varsity Pde near University Dr roundabout.

● Varsity Pde near Christine Ave roundabout.

“These cameras feature high-definition vision and sophisticated night-vision systems in the hope they provide enough evidence police need to identify and prosecute these grubs,” he said. “Hooning has emerged as the new graffiti. They’re marking their territory on the road – as soon as one lays skidmarks another attempts to cover them.

“We end up with an escalating problem in our quiet residential streets.”

Robina resident Brad Watts, who has lived in the area for 15 years, said the roads were “crazier”.

“Since Christmas there has been about five bad crashes at the roundabout at the Thorngate and Cheltenham drives intersection,” he said.

“Most were stolen cars. In the past week there have been two crashes. It’s the noise and it’s worse on rainy nights.”

Cr Vorster said there was no “pattern to the idiocy”.

“They take off at a set of lights, put the hammer down as they are going down a hill and use roundabouts like a slalom track.

“I have residents who fear cars will crash through the front of their homes.”

Cr Vorster has teamed with the local neighbourhood watch group to help them install hidden cameras on private properties.

Area co-ordinator of Robina Woods and Robina Waters Neighbourhood Watch Allan Howard said any deterrent that could make the area safer would be welcomed.

“Hidden or visible, it doesn’t mean anything other than if you are committing a crime, then you will be caught,” he said.

“If you are like the majority, you will have nothing to worry about and you’ll be happy to have them.”