Port Augusta Declared Public Precinct

The initiative, which will run for six months, is aimed at ensuring community safety for both residents and visitors to Port Augusta.

The Officer in Charge of the Far North Local Service Area, Superintendent Paul Isherwood, said, “SAPOL continues to participate in a multi-agency response to address alcohol abuse, anti-social behaviour and community safety concerns in Port Augusta area”.

“Police take a multi-agency approach to this social issue and are regularly meeting and working with other government agencies, health partners, the Port Augusta City Council and community stakeholders,” he said.

“We will continue with this collaborative approach, but this declaration will provide additional authorities to SAPOL to maintain public order and safety within the defined area.”

Please be advised the Port Augusta CBD will be a ‘Declared Public Precinct’ from Friday 18 October 2024. The defined area is bound by the following locations:

• the western boundary of Augusta Highway / Victoria Parade extending in a straight line north to the low tide shoreline of Spencer Gulf
• the low tide shoreline of Spencer Gulf at the northern extension from Augusta Highway / Victoria Parade, extending south along the eastern low tide shoreline of Spencer Gulf to the straight line extension of the northern boundary of Flinders Terrace
• the eastern low tide shoreline of Spencer Gulf at the straight line extension of the northern boundary of Flinders Terrace, along the northern boundary of Flinders Terrace to the western boundary of Augusta Highway / Victoria Parade.

In September 2024, SAPOL made a recommendation to the Attorney General, the Honourable Kyam Maher MLC, to approve a Declared Public Precinct (pursuant to Section 66N of the Summary Offences Act 1953) for the Port Augusta CBD.

On Friday 11 October 2024, the Attorney General approved the declaration to operate for a period of 12 hours from 10am to 10pm on every day of the week.

The declaration will come into effect on Friday 18 October 2024 for six months, ending on Sunday 27 April 2025.

A Declared Public Precinct enables the following powers provided by Section 66 of the Act to be exercised by police:

• conduct a metal detector search of a person and any property in their possession within a declared public precinct for the presence of weapons
• carry out general drug detection in relation to any person present within a declared public precinct
• order a person or group posing a risk to public order and safety to leave the declared public precinct
• ban a person who commits an offence of a kind that may pose a risk to public order and safety, or behaves in an offensive or disorderly manner, within a declared public precinct.
• remove children from the declared public precinct who are in danger of physical harm or abuse, behaving in an offensive or disorderly manner, or otherwise committing or about to commit an offence.

The Port Augusta CBD will be a ‘Declared Public Precinct’ from Friday 18 October 2024, for six months.