Drive for more cops
A CAMPAIGN is being ramped up for a permanent police beat which would protect the Gold Coast University Hospital, Griffith University campus and the Commonwealth Games Athletes’ village.
Opposition frontbencher Ros Bates and Bonney LNP candidate Sam O’Connor are behind the push for the stronger long term police presence at Parklands which they believe would be a critical Commonwealth Games legacy.
The Bulletin is exploring potential benefits from the event in the lead-up to the Going for Gold Legacy Symposium.
News Corp Australia along with and Sky News and the Bulletin on October 31 will host the symposium, which will bring together world class industry and policy leaders to explore how the event will impact on the community, development, infrastructure and employment. The Going for Gold Legacy Symposium will be held on October 31 at the Marriott Resort Surfers Paradise. It is a three-hour breakfast brunch event, with tickets $80 per person or $720 per table of 10. For more information, go to goldcoastbulletin.com.au/ goingforgold
GOLDOC chairman Peter Beattie in August last year revealed a police beat would be established at the Athletes’ Village but the Government has not announced a new facility.
Ms Bates told the Bulletin: “He announced it. As you know, I’ve had a petition for a police beat in the precinct.
“With the Games Village, the university, the public hospital and private hospital, the population of the area will be the same as Mackay. “We need a police beat.” After a petition was tabled in Parliament, the then Police Minister Bill Byrne in March last year acknowledged the significant infrastructure precinct.
“I am advised that the hospital is currently serviced by a QPS Hospital Liaison Officer, based on the premises, to undertake a wide range of policing duties,” he wrote. “A residential police beat also operates in Arundel and this designated beat borders the hospital precinct.”
Mr O’Connor has made the police beat a key issue after talking to concerned residents.
“Our community deserves to feel safe and a visible police presence in one of our busiest precincts goes a long way towards achieving this,” Mr O’Connor said. growth in the