ValleyGirl

I see reviews raving about Yamba are by people who have visited for holidays - I guess it's a case of 'the grass is always greener'?
Reality bit us hard on Saturday night when a large group of noisy party-goers rained bricks and rocks at police officers attending a noise complaint and setting fire to their paddy wagon, causing in the vicinity of $50,000 in vehicular damage. The local officers who attended the initial complaint called re-inforcements from other regional stations & as a result over a dozen people were arrested, both minors and adults (one was 50 years of age).
Sure, every town & city has it's problems, but police presence in Yamba is spread very thinly here. In a region with about 20,000 residents there are only around 12 officers to service it. Living in a fast-growing township where facilities and services are over-stretched by demand for same, average income lower than state average, high unemployment with few work opportunities, coupled with sea-changers moving in from elsewhere to retire with their disposable income & fancy cars demanding modern housing with a water view & all mod-cons all makes for a potential recipe for disaster.
'No alcohol zones' are posted around town but do nothing to stop people walking along residential streets anytime day or night drinking alcohol. Just stand outside the local bottle shop & see how many people come out sucking on a beer and get in their car & drive off with it in one hand. The weekly 'police report' cites mostly charges for DUI, driving without a licence, ignoring curfew or bail conditions and violations of restraining orders. Only time for containment rather than preventative measures. A drug clean-up in Byron area only moved operations south to the Clarence Valley. Our mental health services are virtually non-existant and I agree with another reviewer about lack of medical and specialists help. Many of my older neighbours have been forced to move back to the cities for even basic assistance.
MP Steve Cansdell is currently petitioning for a 24 hour police presence in Yamba, following a recent armed robbery. This cannot come soon enough for most residents and our local constabulary.
In spite of it all, Yamba is blessed by many beaches, much bushland and bountiful birdlife. By all means please visit and enjoy your holiday but be aware we may face more challenges than where you live and this most recent 'incident' is devastating for Australias No.1 towns residents.