IronBar to add new security measures to combat violence
COMMUNITY SAFETY
Victoria Stone-Meadows
The IronBar will remain closed to late night revellers for the foreseeable future as the venue investigates ways to curb antisocial behaviour.
The decision to close the ground floor section of the iconic pub earlier than usual following the arrest of an 18-year-old Wonga Beach man for punching another man in the head last Friday.
IronBar owner, Shane Loughnan, said his hand had been forced after an increase in violent incidents, which has put his staff and patrons at risk.
“We hadn’t had that many incidents in the past but in a short space of time we’ve seen five or six serious incidents in a three to four week period,” he said.
“The gaming room will be open and the bar upstairs will open again but downstairs won’t be open at this stage.”
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Mr Loughnan said he would be looking into a range of new security measures for IronBar including a dress code, lockouts, a cover charge, ID scanning and more.
“If people are gong to behave in a bad way, we are going to change how we operate, we are going to up the ante with security,” he said.
“I’m not exactly sure yet just what shape it’s all going to take but we just need it to stop, which is a sad situation.”
IronBar is the only venue in Port Douglas with a liquor licence until 3.30am.
Mr Loghnan said local people have caused most of the unruly and dangerous behaviour at the venue and called on patrons to lift their behaviour.
“We need to start behaving ourselves and stop being a bunch of bogans,” he said.
“What I think, and I’ve been here a long time- about 25 years – is we need to catch up with the times and send a message that this behaviour is completely unacceptable.”
“We are a tourist town and it’s been hard enough to get tourists in of late without all this antisocial behaviour.”
He said the recent increase in violence stems from drunk people being refused entry to the venue and becoming violent.
Staff at the IronBar have reported they are also fed up with the way patrons are treating them.
“People are turning up in a real state then when the bouncer refuses them entry it all becomes volatile.
“My staff are not happy and I am struggling to find people who want to work; even people who have been working for me for years are concerned about their safety and having to put up with and tolerate the abuse.”
Liam Hudson from Paddy’s Bar and Danny Gray from Rattle’n’Hum said they had not seen an increase in late-night violence or antisocial behaviour on Macrossan Street.
However, Simon MacLeod from N17 said he has noted an ongoing problem with revellers acting up in Port Douglas.
“N17 has suffered lots of abuse from drunk people going to and fro from the two ends of the town since we opened,” he said.
“It’s dozens of groups of people; carrying open alcohol, being rude and abusive, public urination, bringing open booze into the shop – it’s an ongoing problem.”
Mr MacLeod said he supports the decision made by Mr Loughnan and echoed his sentiments about people taking responsibility for their behaviour.
“It comes down to an individual, this violence is not acceptable. People have too much to drink and they are not in control of what they think is right or wrong,” he said.
“I completely support Shane, but it’s not just them that need to change and IronBar can’t be held responsible.”
Both Mr Loughnan and Mr MacLeod said this behaviour is negatively impacting many businesses on the main street.
“We want people to come here and we need to be doing what we do properly so people can come here and be safe,” Mr Loughnan said.
“It’s the one of the things we have in competition with places like Cairns and the Gold Coast; Port Douglas is safe where you can walk around at night.
“We all need take responsibility for it, every venue.
“These ugly stupid incidents need to stop. I feel for everyone because we are all in the same boat.
“When IronBar does go forward, what we are gong to do is ask people to have a bit of bloody respect; if you are refused entry, just go.”