A 22-year-old Bairnsdale woman has been remanded in custody facing serious criminal charges following a terrifying lunchtime altercation involving weapons in the Nicholson Street mall that saw a vehicle driven along a public footpath, narrowly missing pedestrians.
The incident unfolded at approximately 12.35pm last Tuesday, when emergency services responded to reports of a violent dispute between several people in the Bairnsdale CBD. Police allege an offender fled the scene in a motor vehicle, mounting the footpath and driving erratically through the pedestrian area, leaving shoppers and business owners fearing for their safety.
A short time after the incident, police arrested the 22-year-old local woman. She was interviewed by detectives and subsequently charged with multiple offences, including conduct endangering life, conduct endangering serious injury, and affray, before being remanded to face court.
The escalation in public violence has drawn sharp responses from both East Gippsland Shire Council and local business advocates, reigniting broader debates surrounding safety, policing and infrastructure in the township’s central retail precinct.
East Gippsland Shire Chief Executive Officer Fiona Weigall acknowledged the community’s concern over dangerous behaviour in public spaces while emphasising that such issues are not limited to a single location.
“Anti-social and criminal activity in public spaces is a challenging problem across Victoria, and this behaviour is not isolated to the mall,” Ms Weigall said.
“There are also incidents, such as the alleged incident last Wednesday when a vehicle was reported to have been driven erratically around the eastern end of Nicholson Street. These incidents can happen anywhere and at any time.”
Council will soon start work on significant infrastructure works in the mall (see page 3).
“The infrastructure changes will assist in reducing some of this behaviour. They are unlikely to remove or relocate it completely, nor will they resolve the broader societal issues we are all experiencing as a community,” Ms Weigall said.
She urged community members to immediately report any unlawful or dangerous activity to Victoria Police.
The response from local traders was swift and critical, with Bairnsdale Chamber of Commerce president Trevor Hancock expressing deep frustration over the perceived lack of council intervention to secure the mall precinct.
“‘Let them eat cake’ is the recurring message desperate businesses and citizens are getting out of our council offices,” Mr Hancock said.
“The latest horrific events in the Nicholson Street mall just does not register. It has become the most dangerous area in Bairnsdale where it just isn’t safe to go near. Indeed, it’s a miracle nobody was killed or a car smashed into a business.
“After meetings, after consultant’s reports and after ‘taskforces’ the issue is very much a shocking example where our council is seen as either incompetent or belligerent.
“The Chamber will not resile from supporting business in Bairnsdale and will work with the council, but there comes a time when you just wonder if our council is genuine about supporting business.”
