Dawesville has changed. What used to be a quiet coastal community has grown into a busy southern corridor with thousands more people, more traffic, more young families, and unfortunately more incidents. For years we were told that patrols from Mandurah were enough. I agreed with that at the time because the population was smaller and the problems were fewer. That is no longer the case.

The Reality of Distance

We are the furthest point from Mandurah Police Station. A patrol car has to travel twenty to thirty minutes just to reach us, and that is before lights, traffic, peak periods, or being tied up with other jobs. When police are already busy, which is most of the time, response times stretch even further. Many locals report waiting half an hour or more for attendance. This is not a criticism of the officers. It is simply geography and workload.

The southern corridor has grown faster than the policing model. Patrols that once made sense for a small coastal town are no longer keeping pace with the number of incidents we are seeing. Break ins, hooning, antisocial behaviour, damage, and youth issues are now regular topics in local conversations. The community feels the gap between what is happening on the ground and the resources available to respond.

Incidents Are Getting Worse

Only a couple of weeks ago there was an assault involving local youths. The consequences were minimal and many residents felt the response did not match the seriousness of what happened. When young people see that behaviour has little consequence, it encourages more of the same. It also leaves victims and families feeling unsupported.

Then yesterday we had a terrifying armed robbery in Falcon. A man wearing a full face mask walked into a fast food outlet on Old Coast Road, threatened staff with a knife, demanded cash, and fled on foot. Incidents like this used to be rare in our area. They are now becoming part of a pattern. Drugs, robberies, hoons, vandals, and late night disturbances are happening all the time. People are feeling the shift.

We Need a Practical Local Solution

A full police station may not be realistic right now, but a community police presence is. Dawesville has a community centre that is underused and sitting in the perfect location. A small room could be used as a community police office. Officers could work from the centre during set hours, run youth engagement activities, and provide a visible presence in the area. This would shorten response times, increase patrol visibility, and give residents a place to speak directly with police.

The centre already has facilities that could support youth programs. Pool tables, recreation spaces, and room for activities like blue light discos. Giving young people positive contact with police helps build trust and reduces the chance of problems escalating. It also makes better use of a public asset that is currently sitting quiet most days.

Why This Matters

When people do not see police, confidence drops. Reporting drops. Data looks lower than reality. That lower data is then used to justify fewer resources. It becomes a loop. A community police office would break that loop by making policing visible again and giving residents a sense of safety and connection.

Dawesville deserves policing that matches the size and needs of the community we have become. A small step like a community police office would make a big difference. It is simple, achievable, and would help restore the sense of safety that brought so many of us here in the first place.

The Dawesy Hub, in conjunction with Connecting Corridors, will continue to raise this issue and support practical solutions. The Dawesy Hub will also be participating in Neighbourhood Watch for the area and sharing caution videos of drivers and incidents. Every video will be checked carefully so no one is blamed unfairly. Our readership covers a wide area and both state and local representatives follow the site, so the message reaches the people who need to hear it.

FOOTNOTE:  Lisa Munday MP took the issue to Parliament.