Adelaide's worst suburb - Davoren Park

[crawf]

Davoren Park's streets of fear and loathing

http://www.news.com.au/adelaidenow/stor ... 01,00.html
MICHAEL MILNES, BEN HYDE

July 31, 2009 11:15pm

DAVOREN Park residents are arming themselves with knives and not letting their children play in front yards following a series of violent incidents.

Their fears come after an alleged murder and police siege in the embattled northen suburb that has a growing reputation as a no-go zone for all but those who live there.

A mother of four, who has lived there for two years, told The Advertiser she will not let her children play in her front yard and drives them to school most days even though the school is less than 100m away.

Most residents interviewed by The Advertiser spoke only on condition of anonymity out of fear of reprisal.

"I have too many kids," she said. "I can't live with other people. This was the only place I could get a house without sharing.

"I've lived in Salisbury and Smithfield, and this is the worst. It's s***. It's Davoren Park.

"Given half a chance, I would move from here. I would not have my kids here.

"My kids aren't allowed to play outside. They're not even allowed to come out the front until it's time for school."

Another resident, who has lived in the suburb for six years and also did not want to be identified, said he carried a knife when he walked the streets.

He said gangs of 10 to 15 people, some of whom carried weapons, were common in the area.

"I do not walk the streets at night unless I've got a blade on me," he said.

"If you stay out of other people's business you've got nothing to worry about in this area.

"That's the only way you can survive this suburb."

The man's partner said a combination of drugs, alcohol, unemployment and boredom made Davoren Park a crime hot spot.

"Most people are on drugs around here because they are bored," she said.

Not just residents are scared for their welfare in the suburb.

Multiple Davoren Park addresses last December featured on a list of no-go zones for emergency services – addresses the staff will not attend unless they have a police escort.

The suburb was in the headlines again this week after a man was stabbed to death in an alleged drug-related murder.

Locals gathered near the cordon set up by police as STAR Group officers, armed with machineguns, laid siege to a house where the suspected murderer was thought to be inside.

School-age children and their parents lined the street littered with graffiti and car-tyre burnout marks, chatting with the media about the latest incident befalling their suburb.

Despite crimes over the past year, including murders, bashings and thefts, some residents believe some sections of the suburb have been quieter.

One resident, who only would be identified as Raymond, said: "It hasn't been a bad street for over six months. I have lived here for eight years. I like it but my brother, who lives in the next street, hates it. A lot of the troublemakers have moved on but one bloke was stabbed in the neck this year."

Raymond said the suburb's main problem was drugs. "You go anywhere and you can get drugs here," he said.

A couple who have lived in the suburb for almost 13 years said they had experienced "no trouble whatsoever". They said their western side was "great". "I wouldn't like to live over there (the eastern side), it's a bit rough," the woman said.

Mitchell Park, a southern suburb with similar demographics has undergone renewal in the past 20 years.

Member for Mitchell Kris Hanna said new housing in the 1990s had attracted a new type of resident. That had helped rejuvenated the suburb.

"It had a very bad reputation and, through the 1970s, there was an extremely high proportion of teenagers," he said.

"You had young blokes tearing about in cars, hooning around, clowning around, rumours of drug dealing and violence and all sorts of problems. Then more than half was knocked down and, with the different population and people moving in, the element of marketing as well as real estate agents wanting to sell it as an area for young professionals . . . it's actually become a brilliant place to live and it's a great example of how the environment has changed the culture."

Davoren Park has become an area emergency crews fear to go.

Incidents include:

September 19, 2008: Man, 81, bashed and robbed by two men looking for drugs.

November 7, 2008: Homeless man Shane Gohl, 41, bashed and set on fire as he slept in a car. Nobody yet charged.

December 29, 2008: Police charge man, 21, who allegedly stabbed another man.

December 2008: Multiple addresses feature on a list of 104 houses identified as potentially dangerous by ambulance crew, leading them to request police escorts if called there.

January 1, 2009: Brett Wade Bamford shot dead in driveway.

January 27, 2009: Man dies after falling from a car.

March 16, 2009: Man, 24, and his son, 2, found dead from stab wounds inside a Charlson St home while his partner, 21, and baby daughter, 15 days, sustain serious injuries.

May 2, 2009: Police officer allegedly assaulted and eight people arrested after partygoers became aggressive.

July 27, 2009: Woman, 40, charged with murdering a man at her Kilmington Rd home.



HAVE YOUR SAY: What can authorities do to fix Davoren Park?

Member for Light Tony Piccolo's solutions

-$1 billion over 10 years for a range of infrastructure projects in the area including two new schools and rebuilding of houses.


- Increasing the ratio of private housing in the suburb to bring in a more diverse community and regenerate the area.


- Programs in place to encourage teenage mothers to get an education.


- Defence and horticultural programs in schools to make teenagers ``job ready'' when they leave school.


- Improving parks and reserves to get people using them.

[crawf]

Definitely not the best side of town.

Though there is some very big plans for this area, so hopefully over the next 10-20 years it will improve because at moment its shocking and not a place where I would step foot in.

[Hooligan]

What a load of crap, I am happy to work back from the pub and walk home back from the train station in the dark. I've never had a problem.

I'd like to see a list of incidents of what happens in the CBD to compare to.

[crawf]

The Adelaide CBD would have a larger crime rate due to the large number of people the city attracts on a daily base and its the main entertainment district in Adelaide.

Daveron Park isn't a very large suburb, but for a small suburb it does have alot of crime. Though from what I've heard there is two sides to Daveron Park (good and bad), Smithfield Plains isn't much better either.

For the record I feel safer walking around the city at night, then in Daveron Park during the day. Every city has its good and bad areas.

Btw Hi Cruise

[Hooligan]

The Adelaide CBD would have a larger crime rate due to the large number of people the city attracts on a daily base and its the main entertainment district in Adelaide.

Daveron Park isn't a very large suburb, but for a small suburb it does have alot of crime. Though from what I've heard there is two sides to Daveron Park (good and bad), Smithfield Plains isn't much better either.

If Davoren Park is the worst suburb of Adelaide, We live in the safest city of Australia by default. It is true we have two sides though, i live in a new (aka good) area which happens to fall under the name of Davoren Park

For the record I feel safer walking around the city at night, then in Daveron Park during the day. Every city has its good and bad areas.

I'm guessing you have never been here then, The city on a saturday night is far more dangerous than Davoren Park at any time.

Btw Hi Cruise

lol

[Queen Anne]

What a load of crap, I am happy to work back from the pub and walk home back from the train station in the dark. I've never had a problem.

I'd like to see a list of incidents of what happens in the CBD to compare to.

I haven't been there for years, but when I lived in Davoren Park I walked around freely and no one so much as looked sideways at me - even though according to another story I saw on Adelaidenow a week or two ago, I lived on what is now considered the worst street there! It also had a bad reputation when I lived there, but I had a fine time and made some great friends there.

I have big soft spot for Elizabeth, and I hope things aren't going downhill for Davoren Park. Thanks for posting your thoughts Hooligan (and hi by the way )

[crawf]

I believe the Playford Alive project is going to give the area a well needed boast

The Playford Alive precinct covers a region totalling 1,000 hectares in northern Adelaide, in Smithfield Plains and Davoren Park, and adjacent vacant land in Munno Para, Munno Para West, Andrews Farms and Penfield. Currently approximately 13,000 people reside in the area but by 2020, there will be 8,000 new homes and 40,000 residents.

Will be interesting too see how these two plans turn out, considering its right near two major shopping precincts (Elizabeth & Munno Para)...

A traditional-style town centre at the junction of Curtis Road and Peachey Road will feature shops, community facilities, restaurants and cafe outlets in an open environment. Trees and gardens will be established throughout the retail precinct. A Town Park will provide a facility for community events, meetings and open air markets.

Neighbourhood centres will provide essential goods and services. They will be a community focal point for shopping at the newsagent or delicatessen, visiting the local hairdresser or ordering a pizza. A proposed transit oriented development at Munno Para will incorporate a mixed-use development with medium to high density residential living with retail and commercial precincts.

http://www.playfordalive.com.au

Similar concept for the The Parks area, has started to improve that area.

[Hooligan]

What a load of crap, I am happy to walk back from the pub and walk home back from the train station in the dark. I've never had a problem.

I'd like to see a list of incidents of what happens in the CBD to compare to.

I haven't been there for years, but when I lived in Davoren Park I walked around freely and no one so much as looked sideways at me - even though according to another story I saw on Adelaidenow a week or two ago, I lived on what is now considered the worst street there! It also had a bad reputation when I lived there, but I had a fine time and made some great friends there.

I have big soft spot for Elizabeth, and I hope things aren't going downhill for Davoren Park. Thanks for posting your thoughts Hooligan (and hi by the way )

Did you live here when it was Davoren Park or Elizabeth Fields?

The fact it is part of Elizabeth will mean it will always have a bad name And honestely, i wear the fact i live there with pride. At least it is not like the Parks which have prostitutes and such wondering around Hanson road.

[Norman]

Oddly enough, even though I've driven along Hanson Road at various times of the night, I've never seen prostitutes or hookers there.

[rev]

Crawf I feel this has to be said..you need to stop biting every sensationalist(be it good or bad) carrot the media dangle in front of us.
Thing's are bad in Davoren Park. I doubt they are as bad as anywhere else though. A lot of the negative stereotype is created by the media and their reporting. I bet you they interviewed a whole bunch of people in the area, and only aired the ones who dissed the area as if it was south central LA.

Come to the western suburbs and north western suburbs, I can point out a few thing's that with a bit of sensationalism will make these areas look like ghettos.

Norman I haven't seen a hooker down Hanson road for about a year, and that was about midnight when I picked up a pizza from Hanson Road Pizza Bar.
There used to be more when I was younger...I guess it has something to do with the redevelopment of the area. Although I could still point out a certain element which I saw last night while coming home...

I'm guessing you have never been here then, The city on a saturday night is far more dangerous than Davoren Park at any time.

You'd be correct on both points Hooligan.

Daveron Park isn't a very large suburb, but for a small suburb it does have alot of crime. Though from what I've heard there is two sides to Daveron Park (good and bad), Smithfield Plains isn't much better either.

Once again you take the bait. How would you actually know what Smithfield plains is like unless you have lived there? You seem to comment a lot on what certain places are like, but you have never actually truly experienced them..

For the record I feel safer walking around the city at night, then in Daveron Park during the day. Every city has its good and bad areas.

How often do you walk around the city at night, and have you ever been to Davoren park(night or day..)?

I've been up there on many occassions for work. Day and NIGHT.
Never felt unsafe. I drive a 5.7L VX Calais. It was not stolen. It was not left on bricks. Nobody siphoned my petrol. Nobody broke in and stole my sound system. I actually parked my car in the street on one night and came back to it five hours later at 11pm. It was still there as I left it.
I was not assaulted. I was not stabbed. I was not robbed. I was not threatened.

I actually found the people up in the northern suburbs to be no different to people all across Adelaide. They were far from being the thugs on the prowl the media portray them.

The city safer at night then Davoren park? You are surely pulling someones leg

If you think the city is safer at night(I presume Friday/Sat night) then suburban Adelaide during the day...you surely have not lived.

[Aidan]

Whether the City is safer or not depends on whether you're measuring absolute crime rate or likelihood of being a victim of crime while there.

And whether or not Davoren Park really is Adelaide's worst suburb, there's a more general question: how can we prevent bogan suburbs from becoming violent?

[Shuz]

Simple; Bulldoze them.

[Queen Anne]

What a load of crap, I am happy to walk back from the pub and walk home back from the train station in the dark. I've never had a problem.

I'd like to see a list of incidents of what happens in the CBD to compare to.

I haven't been there for years, but when I lived in Davoren Park I walked around freely and no one so much as looked sideways at me - even though according to another story I saw on Adelaidenow a week or two ago, I lived on what is now considered the worst street there! It also had a bad reputation when I lived there, but I had a fine time and made some great friends there.

I have big soft spot for Elizabeth, and I hope things aren't going downhill for Davoren Park. Thanks for posting your thoughts Hooligan (and hi by the way )

Did you live here when it was Davoren Park or Elizabeth Fields?

The fact it is part of Elizabeth will mean it will always have a bad name And honestely, i wear the fact i live there with pride. At least it is not like the Parks which have prostitutes and such wondering around Hanson road.

I lived there when it was Elizabeth Field. Many in my family still live in Elizabeth and I'm looking forward to getting back there when we get home to Adelaide.

I'd like to throw this out to everyone...I have seen some towns and suburbs/neighourhoods here in the US that make Elizabeth look like a picture postcard. But I'd bet that those communities have a life and energy of their own that the casual observer cannot fathom. Just like Elizabeth. And Adelaide for that matter - how many times have any of us raised our eyes over Adelaide's "reputation" and how exaggerated and, frankly, stupid this kind of talk is? It's possible to talk about a place's issues without resorting to talk like "bogan" and "hole" and such - then the speaker could be part of the solution instead of being part of the problem.

[Hooligan]

I've never seen prostitutes or hookers there.

The terms prostitute and hooker refers to the same profession

[crawf]

Crawf I feel this has to be said..you need to stop biting every sensationalist(be it good or bad) carrot the media dangle in front of us.

Rev, I suggest you get your facts straight first before making that claim.

Thing's are bad in Davoren Park. I doubt they are as bad as anywhere else though. A lot of the negative stereotype is created by the media and their reporting. I bet you they interviewed a whole bunch of people in the area, and only aired the ones who dissed the area as if it was south central LA.

I know people who live in the Elizabeth area and who used to live near Daveron Park, while I will admit I have not been in the suburb and its probably not as bad the media claim it to be. Though the statistics are not positive, in the last 9 months, 5 people have been murdered on seperate occasions in a suburb of around 3,000 people. And when you look at the suburb's history its no wonder the media is targeting the area.

But yes the media does create alot of negative stereotyping.

September 19, 2008: Man, 81, bashed and robbed by two men looking for drugs.

November 7, 2008: Homeless man Shane Gohl, 41, bashed and set on fire as he slept in a car. Nobody yet charged.

December 29, 2008: Police charge man, 21, who allegedly stabbed another man.

December 2008: Multiple addresses feature on a list of 104 houses identified as potentially dangerous by ambulance crew, leading them to request police escorts if called there.

January 1, 2009: Brett Wade Bamford shot dead in driveway.

January 27, 2009: Man dies after falling from a car.

March 16, 2009: Man, 24, and his son, 2, found dead from stab wounds inside a Charlson St home while his partner, 21, and baby daughter, 15 days, sustain serious injuries.

May 2, 2009: Police officer allegedly assaulted and eight people arrested after partygoers became aggressive.

July 27, 2009: Woman, 40, charged with murdering a man at her Kilmington Rd home.

Come to the western suburbs and north western suburbs, I can point out a few thing's that with a bit of sensationalism will make these areas look like ghettos.

I currently live in the western suburbs (until next Monday) and spent alot of time over in the north-western suburbs last year. Though recently I've been working in the north-west, right near The Parks area.

North-western suburbs are okay, there are some nice suburbs (like Westwood) though its still largely a industrial area so it is always going to attract that stigma its a bad area. However the Westwood & Port Adelaide developments is having a positive impact on the area.