Businesses fume at hoon problem
Residents and workers scared to leave their properties
Residents and workers at industrial estates are too scared to leave their Gold Coast properties as hoons smoke the streets with burnouts.
Division 7 candidate Joe Wilkinson, contesting the local government poll which takes in the small business and trade areas of Arundel and Molendinar, has released video showing hoons lining up in cars to burn rubber in culde-sacs.
Both Mr Wilkinson and Division 2 candidate Naomi Fowler, in neighbouring Helensvale and Hope Island, said hooning has emerged as the local government poll’s hottest topic.
“The community is sick of hearing and seeing hoons misuse our roads. This reckless driving poses a significant threat to the safety of both road users and pedestrians,” Mr Wilkinson said.
“High speeds, aggressive manoeuvres, and a blatant disregard for traffic rules are not acceptable on our roads. This type of behaviour can lead to accidents, causing injuries or even fatalities.”
A Labrador resident in a post on a community page has singled out a motorcyclist for regularly roaring through Central St at 7pm.
“Do us a favour mate, stop it. Not only are you giving us fumes – which we don’t need – obviously you are loaded with money and can afford the petrol,” the resident wrote.
Mr Wilkinson said residents needed a voice at council to push for more CCTV and lighting.
“Local residents and businesses shouldn’t have to put up with this. Hooning disrupts the peace and tranquillity of local suburbs. Excessive noise, tyre squealing, and loud engines negatively impact residents’ quality of life,” he said.
“As I’m talking with residents, it’s evident that hooning is happening on almost every local road in our area. Some of the key hot spots are Marine Pde, Broad St, Brisbane
Rd, Parkwood Blvd, Napper Rd, Smith St, and, unfortunately, the list goes on. Not only is this impacting residential properties, but our local businesses are also coping it.
“Businesses in industrial areas like Arundel and Molendinar are fed up with having to clean up after these hoons come through their streets and leave tyre tread, skid marks, and smashed bottles all over the roads.
“It diminishes the area’s reputation and has business owners worried about the safety of their employees and their vehicles parked in the street.”
Mr Wilkinson said hooning was a Queensland Police Service-led response and primarily a state government concern, but he was committed to closely collaborating with QPS and the government to enhance safety and reduce crime and hooning in our suburbs.
Businesses have told CCTV has led to an immediate reduction in crime.
Ms Fowler said she had doorknocked more than 8000 residents at their homes across Hope Island, Helensvale and Oxenford, where hooning was raised as a major concern.
“Particularly those who are living in residential estates with roundabouts connecting to a long stretch of road,” she said.
“Where this issue is prevalent is in Regatta Waters, Monterey Keys and various areas throughout Oxenford and Helensvale, and residents have often reported young people hooning in their cars have ended up unfortunately driving into their front yard or street tree.
“I support the investigation of an expansion of the city’s camera network to critical locations in our suburbs, targeted hooning surveillance, strategically reviewing crime deterrence methods, and the installation of additional traffic calming devices in key target streets.”