Hervey Bay drug crimes increase

The number of drug offenders appearing before courts is up in Hervey Bay but has decreased in Maryborough.

Doug Menuez

THE number of offenders facing Hervey Bay courts on drug-related charges has increased in each of the past five years.

Fuelling fears a drug culture is damaging our community, almost 100 more people faced local magistrates in 2011 than five years ago.

Figures showed Hervey Bay courts heard 224 drug-related cases in 2007.

The number ballooned to 319 last year, according to the Department of Justice and Attorney-General.

But while drug crime has increased in some parts of the Fraser Coast, Maryborough has had a reduction.

A Department of Justice and Attorney-General spokesman said drug offenders facing Maryborough court dropped from 222 in 2007 to 161 last year.

In total, 2248 people have faced Fraser Coast courts on drug related charges since 2007.

Fraser Coast Bundaberg Drug and Alcohol Taskforce chairwoman Joanne Lambden said not enough was being done to tackle what she termed a national crisis.

"By far the biggest single issue in this region for people who have drug and alcohol-related problems is the lack of rehabilitation services," she said.

"If somebody does decide they want to either detox and do some kind of support services such as residential rehabilitation, or they just want day counselling services, there is nothing or, at least, very few options in regional Australia."