MORE than 60 per cent of Redlands residents say they feel less safe than they did three years ago with antisocial behaviour, burglary, hooning and public safety concerns driving a major new community safety strategy set to go before council next week.
The proposed Redlands Coast Community Safety Action Plan 2026–2028 outlines how Redland City Council plans to tackle both actual crime issues and growing public perceptions around safety through partnerships, education, public space design and stronger community engagement.
The plan follows extensive consultation involving more than 430 survey responses, workshops across the mainland and islands, focus groups and interviews with police, service agencies, First Nations groups and community organisations.
According to the report, 61 per cent of residents surveyed said they now feel less safe than they did three years ago, while only 3 per cent said they felt safer.
The biggest concerns raised by residents included antisocial behaviour in public places, burglary and theft, hooning and dangerous driving, drug use and dealing, and vehicle and e-bike theft.
Council’s own analysis found Redland City still records lower crime rates than comparable South East Queensland councils, but it was also the only benchmarked council area to record a year-on-year increase in offence rates between 2023 and 2024.
The plan warns Redlands’ ageing population — now the fastest ageing among benchmarked councils — could contribute to heightened perceptions of crime and community anxiety around safety issues.
Among the most significant proposals in the plan is a push for a state-funded Critical Response Team to coordinate homelessness support services across Redlands.
Council is also proposing expanded domestic and family violence awareness programs, stronger youth justice conferencing partnerships, increased advocacy for mental health and drug support services, and closer collaboration with Queensland Police Service.
Public spaces are another major focus area.
The strategy proposes greater use of Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design principles — known as CPTED — including improved lighting, sightlines, maintenance and safer urban design in parks and public spaces.
Council is also planning to review future CCTV priorities, increase activation of public spaces and integrate long-term safety infrastructure planning into Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games projects.
The document highlights concerns around e-bike and e-scooter safety, with council proposing new education and awareness initiatives around personal motorised devices.
The plan also calls for stronger intelligence-sharing and police visibility, improved collaboration between support agencies and community organisations, and more crime prevention education campaigns.
Council says the plan is designed around four major themes — people, places, partnerships and participation — with the long-term vision of creating a city where residents can “live, work and play with confidence and ease”.
The matter will be considered at Redland City Council’s General Meeting on Wednesday, May 20.
