Back on the beat; Police presence and CCTV measures to restore Nambour CBD confidence
Marty Hunt outside Nambour Police Station. “The Crisafulli LNP Government has listened to the voices of the community of Nambour and businesses, and we will deliver a permanent Police Beat shopfront in the heart of Nambour’s CBD.”
By Cameron Outridge
Newly elected Member for Nicklin Marty Hunt has hit the ground running after declaring community safety in Nambour CBD one of his top priorities.
Mr Hunt announced last Thursday (December 11) that his election promise of a Police Beat for Nambour had been approved by his government.
He will also move to have live-feed CCTV cameras installed in the town’s centre and will conduct an audit of CBD land-use conflicts where government service locations might clash with community expectations.
He said Nambour businesses and residents had voiced growing concerns about anti-social and criminal behaviour, graffiti, and intimidating confrontations. Many believe the issues are impacting the morale of business owners and discouraging families and seniors from visiting main street shops.
Mr Hunt said his measures aimed to restore a sense of safety and confidence to the heart of Nambour.
“Nambour is where I live, work, and play,” he said.
“No-one wants to talk the town down, but we need to face the reality of what people are saying.
“The feedback I’m getting from businesses and residents is clear: people want to feel safe in their own town.”
“For more than a decade, the community has been asking for a Police Beat in the CBD,” he said. “Labor governments and Labor representatives told us there wasn’t a problem, but the evidence – from council surveys and feedback from businesses – proves otherwise. This is an issue we’re taking seriously, and I’m proud to deliver a solution.”
The Police Beat will place an officer directly in the CBD, dedicated to engaging with local businesses, identifying hotspots, and providing a visible presence to deter criminal and anti-social behaviour.
He said the aim is to move beyond raw crime data, acknowledging that perceptions matter as much as statistics. “It’s not just about crime statistics,” Mr Hunt said. “It’s about behaviour. It’s about people feeling safe. Whether it’s seniors walking through town or families visiting the cinema, everyone deserves to feel secure.”
The Police Beat initiative honours the efforts of former Lowe Street business owner Keira Fiorenza, who advocated for the facility after experiencing multiple break-ins and an armed robbery at her jewellery store.
“Suffering from PTSD (Post-traumatic stress disorder) after an armed robbery at the store in 2019, Keira spearheaded a community push and petition for a permanent Police Beat shopfront in Nambour to increase community safety and deter offenders,” Mr Hunt said. “She bravely stood up to try and protect her business and others from going through what she went through.”
CCTV for immediate response and deterrence
Complementing the Police Beat will be live-feed CCTV cameras strategically installed in the CBD, connecting directly to the Nambour Police Station. “The cameras will act as a deterrent and allow police to respond quickly to incidents,” Mr Hunt said. “This is about ensuring Nambour is a safe place for everyone – businesses, residents, and visitors alike.”
Mr Hunt highlighted positive developments, including new local businesses such as Bitesize Bliss Café and Walter’s Artisan Bread and the opening of a fresh cinema, as signs the town is ready to turn a corner.
“There's an optimism and small business people are the people who help make a town. They are my heroes. They invest in our town, they employ our locals, and I want to see them thrive. I want to do what I can to give them an environment where people feel safe, their staff feel safe, and people spending their money locally and enjoying what Nambour has to offer feel safe, because it is a good town.”
MP proposes audit of Nambour’s services and safety planning
Member for Nicklin Marty Hunt has proposed an audit of Nambour’s community services, aiming to ensure facilities meet the needs of vulnerable people while avoiding land-use conflicts with family-friendly spaces in the CBD.
Mr Hunt said the audit was part of his broader strategy to address safety concerns in Nambour, and would complement a new Police Beat and CCTV cameras in the CBD. “It is my hometown, and I want to make it better,” he said. “At times, government services designed to support people in distress or vulnerable situations are situated in locations that may not align with nearby activities, such as cinemas or family-oriented spaces.
“It’s important to me that the planning in Nambour ensures everything is appropriately placed and meets the needs of the whole community.”
Mr Hunt emphasised that his approach was driven by what the community had asked for.
“I’ve door-knocked thousands of houses and spoken to people from all walks of life,” he said. “The consistent message is that people want to feel safe. Seniors in particular have told me they don’t feel comfortable coming into town. We need to change that.”