ABUSIVE behaviour by youths has become so bad at Victoria Point, that the West Eprapha Creek Bushcare group has disbanded because members are fearful of entering the area to conduct restoration work.
Bushcare member Ian James told a Redland City Council meeting this week that the council should stop plans for a second path to be built through the wetlands because it would destroy bushland and increase anti-social behaviour.
He was backed by Cr Paul Golle, who said the second pathway would cause too much environmental damage and should be abandoned.
Given it was to be built by a developer, an environmental contribution to the same value could be made where it would not cause damage.
Cr Golle said damage would be caused not so much by the path but clearing needed to get access to put a bridge across the creek.
“I have warned my colleagues that the environmental destruction will be quite immense, not to mention providing a secondary access way for anti-social behaviour,’’ Cr Golle said.
Council is not budging on the second pathway issue, with a spokesman saying its route would depend on a vegetation survey and hydraulic modelling.
Councillors and staff had met with residents about their concerns and were speaking to the developer about alternative options.
“This community infrastructure has been supported by council and the broader community since 2010 when the South East Thornlands Structure Plan was adopted after extensive community consultation,’’ he said.
“By including it in the infrastructure agreement between council and developers of the Villa World Affinity project, council has ensured the project costing approximately $1.3 million will be built at no cost to the community.
“...Council has been speaking with the Queensland Police regarding the anti-social behaviour at the site and has asked them to look at ways to reduce this occurring. In response police have undertaken security patrols.’’
Mr James said anti-social and criminal behaviour in the bushland included break-ins, thefts, vandalism, swearing and fighting which had made neighbours’ lives miserable.
“Bushcare members are fearful of going into the bush area because of retaliation by angry youth,’’ he said.
Trail bikes were used in the bush and dogs left to run off-leash. Wallabies had been killed by dogs and koalas were virtually never seen in what was once prime habitat.
The area was regularly vandalised and was a site for grafitti and littering. Minimal maintenance occurred and poor behaviour continued unhindered. “The pathway has been at a psychological cost to residents,’’ he said.
Bushcare members often removed drug paraphenalia, condoms, milk crates and shopping trollies.
“The request that I am making is that the council stop plans to construct further pathways through the Eprapah Creek catchment and environmental zone,’’ he said.
“My experience as a resident with the existing pathway has been problematic. It has been at a psychological cost.’’
In June residents accused council of environmental destruction over proposed clearing of koala habitat for the pathway and bridge.