Residents on edge after siege

Nathan Paull | 14th July 2009

BAREENONG Street was quiet yesterday, but its resident were still reeling after a 14-hour siege had them in lockdown on the weekend.

Barreenong Street was much quieter yesterday.

The Gladstone Observer

BARREENONG Street was quiet yesterday, but its resident were still reeling after a 14-hour siege had them in lockdown on the weekend.

One neighbouring resident said the first she knew of the incident was hearing a noise outside.

"I heard someone near the car and I came outside to tell them to go away," she said.

"But then I realised it was the SWAT team with machine guns leaning against the car."

The resident said the worst part of the ordeal was not knowing what was happening.

"I could hear people walking around outside and the sirens and loudspeakers, but wasn't sure what was going on," she said.

The resident, who, along with others in the stree, was happy to speak with The Observer providing names were not used, said she did not feel safe in the street any more.

"My husband has taken the week off work to look after the family," she said.

Although the couple was allowed to evacuate later that evening, she said she was thankful her two children were not home at the time.

Other residents further from the scene said the lockdown created more annoyance than fear, due to heightened police presence.

"The police were wonderful, they gave us the option to evacuate, but there was a policeman right out front of our house, so I felt we were quite safe," she said.

"They were keeping us updated and told us to call them afterwards with any question."

However, she was shocked the event took place in what she considered was a "quiet, peaceful neighbourhood".

Another resident told The Observer her biggest worry was the sirents.

"We weren't really worried because there were so many police around and we could have evacuated, but I'd already put the kids to bed," she said.

"But there was sirens going at 5.30 in the morning.

"I definitely lost a lot of sleep.

"It was really more of an invoncenience."

Police yet to finalise charges

The man at the centre of a 14-hour siege in Glen Eden at the weekend appeared in Gladstone Magistrates Court yesterday.

Martin Hatt, 24, appeared after the siege, which unfolded in Barreenong Street.

The matter was adjourned until Thursday and Hyatt was remanded in custody although he is expected to make a bail application when he next appears.

Police prosecutors said although some charges had been laid, it was expected that he would face more charges as investigations progressed.

Hyatt was arrested at the end of the siege, about 7am Sunday.

Police had locked down the street about 5pm Saturday.

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