ANTISEMITIC and obscene material discovered inside an apparent Redland City Council contractor compound on Rosebud Esplanade at Point Halloran has sparked concern not only over how the material was displayed in a public place, but also over the initial police response to the incident.
The material was discovered by a local resident walking along the public footpath between the waterfront and Rosebud Esplanade, where a contractor compound surrounded by wire mesh fencing had been established several metres from the footpath on the roadway.
Inside the compound, and clearly visible from the public foreshore, was a large yellow plastic safety figure placed against the fence with one arm raised.
The figure is normally used to alert workers to overhead power lines.
The figure had been defaced with a texta-drawn Adolf Hitler-style moustache and hair, accompanied by the German word “NEIN” appearing to come from its mouth.
Crude drawings of female breasts and male genitalia were also visible on the figure.
Taken together, the imagery appeared to depict a Nazi salute and was described by the resident as antisemitic in nature.
“This is something I believe no member of the Jewish faith should have to see in this day and age,” the resident said.
“As for the drawn breasts and male genitalia, no child should be subjected to this either.”
The resident said the imagery was in full view of anyone walking along the foreshore, an area regularly used by families, walkers and cyclists.
Cleveland Police were contacted shortly after the discovery, however the resident said the response was concerning.
During an initial phone call, a Cleveland Police constable questioned whether the matter warranted police involvement, telling the resident: “How do you see that this is something police would be involved in?”
The resident responded by saying: “No, I’m saying if you think that’s not your job, I can call the Mayor and media, that’s not a problem.”
According to the resident, the constable replied, “OK, then you go ahead and do that.”
In a later conversation, Cleveland Police Sergeant Justin Wekeem reportedly told the resident: “It’s not really a police matter.”
The resident said no officers attended the site at the time and that both he and his partner were concerned by the response.
Redland City Council was also notified of the incident.
The incident has raised broader questions about oversight of contractor compounds on public land, how such material was able to be displayed in a highly visible community location, and whether the response was appropriate given the nature of the imagery.
Residents have called for the immediate removal of the offensive material and for council to clarify whether the compound was authorised and what steps will be taken to prevent a recurrence.
Redland City councillor Lance Hewlett was continuing to make inquiries at the time of publication.
