Mall rats, not location, identified as ‘the problem’ with bus interchange

ERIN PEARSON
Violent “mall rats” are the main problem with Geelong’s new bus interchanges, according to traders and commuters.
They demanded extra police protection as council prepares to review the controversial interchanges amid calls to move them out of Moorabool Street.
Banjo’s manager Emerly Etheredge, 23, said staff wanted the interchanges to stay but believed they were attracting unruly youths.
Staff were in fear of the youths after receiving death threats, she said.
“(The interchanges) bring customers up to this end of Moorabool Street but the mall rats hang around, spit and sit on our seats,” she said.
“One mall rat threatened to kill one of our staff members the other week.”
Ms Etheredge, who has worked at the store for nine years, said trouble escalated after the interchanges arrived in September.
Good Housekeeping’s Ann Gravet said 3pm to 5pm weekdays was trouble time at the interchanges.
“We’ve had kids come behind our counter and we’ve watched girls being scratched. We need more security and more police around.”
Bus traveller Shirly Fairless, of Belmont, supported the interchanges’ location for its convenience.
She also found Moorabool Street safer than her previous bus stop near Centrelink.
“I feel safer here because there are more people around if something did happen.”
Geelong Police Inspector Gary Thompson said the force’s existing management plan for Geelong’s mall highlighted a “number of key issues” related to the interchanges.