Residents meet to stem violence

More than 150 concerned local residents joined with community and government representatives to discuss strategies to minimise violence and anti-social behaviour in Umina late last month.

The meeting was organised by Club Umina's general manager Mr Josh Collins following a spate of violent incidents involving youth near the club.

Mr Collins said the meeting was beneficial to all parties involved including local residents, Gosford Police, Umina PCYC, the Community Drug Action Team, Gosford Council, the Department of Community Services and State Government representatives.

He said all facets of the community were given the opportunity to speak at the forum which allowed "all voices to be heard".

"There were some people who showed community spirit by joining the CDAT and PCYC committees on the evening and that was great to see," Mr Collins said.

"Out of the meeting the suggestions that have the most merit will be correlated and forwarded on in a constructive manner to the relevant people who can make the changes that are so desperately needed."

Member for Gosford Ms Andrews, who acted as chairperson for the forum, said the community meeting was the first step to reaching a long-term solution to the problem of violence and anti-social behaviour in young people.

"The forum gave residents the opportunity to raise ideas about parental responsibility, reducing anti-social behaviour and underage drinking," Ms Andrews said.

"Ideas that arose from the forum included increased parenting and anger programs, social activities for youth and the need for residents to report all incidents to police.

"It was encouraging to see over 150 people attend the community forum and to see many offer their time to volunteer in community groups to assist in addressing local issues.

"A number of initiatives will now be investigated and addressed by those representatives who attended the forum."

Minutes from the meeting reported that the problems being addressed were the responsibility of the community as a whole.

"Discipline starts in the home and, together as a community, this message needed to publicised," Member for Wyong and Parliamentary Secretary to the Premier Mr David Harris was recorded as saying.

"A large number of young people were being supplied with alcohol by their parents and this issue needed to be addressed.

"The government will be addressing this issue but a whole of community approach was required."

Crime coordinator of the Brisbane Water Local Area Command detective senior sergeant Vivienne Crawford was recorded as stating that the local police were responsible for running a number of operations within the command and deploying troops.

"Many incidents were not attended by the police because they were not reported.

"Police are looking at the visibility of police operations; drug operations and traffic offences. "Two patrol cars operated daily in the area.

"Umina ranked third overall in the command's crime statistics.

"CCTV cameras operating in the Peninsula area are proving to be a good police asset and more cameras were being installed.

"A school liaison officer and a youth liaison officer within the command worked with youths on a regular basis and closely with the PCYC.

"We are attempting to have R3 Squad operating over the summer months to deal with anti-social behaviour and working on a major operation entailing a community/multi-agency approach.

"More volunteers for the local neighbourhood watch team would assist in addressing anti-social issues."

Young people caught committing crimes may be ordered to attend youth conferencing where young offenders face their victims.

She stated this form of punishment proved to be a "very effective" method of dealing with young offenders.

Meanwhile, chair of the Community Drug Action Team Ms Carolyn Carter stated that more volunteers were needed to make the program more effective.

The Community Drug Action Team provide youth with a safe recreational environment through supervised dance parties and other programs and preparing mentors for Year 7 students.

Gosford Council's public and commercial spaces officer Ms Jennie Dias would continue to support its Youth Encouragement Strategy project while running a number of projects on the Peninsula with the help of local police and through Community Development Support Expenditure funding.

Acting director of DoCS Central Coast Ms Elaine Thomson was recorded as saying the Peninsula area was "one of the busiest" for the department.

The department's Brighter Futures program to help families recognise issues of drug and alcohol abuse and domestic violence would also continue from the Gosford office.

At the conclusion of the forum, community members were invited to make suggestions.

Email, 7 Nov 2009 Josh Collins, Club Umina Press release, 21 Oct 2009 Marie Andrews, Member for Gosford Minutes, 19 Oct 2009 Club Umina community forum