The rise in homelessness has left many local authorities facing a tricky balancing act as they also seek to deal with a spike in illegal camping.
The Australian Homelessness Monitor 2024 report revealed a 22% increase in people experiencing rough sleeping in the three years to 2023-24, nationwide.
In New South Wales, rough sleeping has surged by 51% since 2020, largely driven by an increase in regional communities.
Homelessness Australia CEO Kate Colvin said homelessness was no longer confined to the most vulnerable.
“With the housing crisis forcing working families into homelessness, this should be a wake-up call for action,” she said.
Fraser Coast Council is cracking down on illegal camping, PIC: Fraser Coast Council
Of course, this has changed the way councils have to think about dealing with illegal camping. While rangers seeking enforce local regulations have to be sensitive to the situations of the people they may be seeking to move on, there is also a need not to let things get out of hand.
Authorities on Queensland’s Fraser Coast, for example, have just decided ‘enough is enough’ and rough sleepers engaging in dangerous and anti-social activities have been ordered to move on from public spaces in Pialba.
Fraser Coast Regional Council CEO Ken Diehm said the action followed an alarming increase in violent incidents, criminal activity, and property damage in areas in Pialba such as The Pines Park, Apex Park, alongside Tooan Tooan Creek, and the site known as ‘The Kitchen’ near the All Abilities Playground car park.
Council workers have been cleaning up the affected sites, removing shelters, and installing barriers to prevent vehicles from accessing the vacant area near Tooan Tooan Creek.
“This is not about homelessness – it’s about community safety,” Mr Diehm said. “We are dealing with a small group engaging in anti-social and violent behaviour that threatens public safety, damages property and the environment, and puts our staff and community at risk.”
Mr Diehm said the council remained committed to supporting those experiencing homelessness by working closely with Queensland Government and non-government organisations to connect individuals with housing, mental health services, and addiction support.
“Council generally takes a compassionate approach to homelessness, provided sites are kept clean and those involved don’t cause concern for other members of the public,” he said. “However, when public spaces are misused for unsafe gatherings and anti-social behaviour such as destroying property and abusing others, we must act to protect the broader community.”
It’s not easy then for councils to balance the need to be compassionate to those facing homelessness against the desire to crack down on illegal camping.
In September last year, the City of Coffs Harbour Council fenced off a large area of vacant land near the Jetty area that had been regularly used by significant numbers of free camping vehicles and tents.
And in October last year, Perth’s Town of Cambridge Council turned off the hot water at the public showers at City Beach in a bid ‘to address illegal camping in the area’. The council though was later forced to turn the hot water back on following a backlash from local beachgoers.
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Governments both Federal, State and Local should be working very hard as an utmost priority to build more social housing.
Governments of all persuasions have allowed our social housing stocks to decline to such a low level and rely on the private sector, that now the perfect storm has hit they have no answers and are running around like headless chooks without at least making a solid start on fixing the issue.
The private sector is not going to do it as they are not charities.
They are there to make money and in a climate of rising house prices and interest rates can ill afford not to raise rents by a significant amount.
Both side of politics sold off public housing your years . SA Gov has half the public housing it had 20 years ago. many public houses were transfered to Community Housing(CU) so that the CU would get the tenants Commonwealth Rent Assistance funds . A former Public Servant of 20 years in Housing
Yes correct.
I have come to the conclusion that politicians are idiots and many are corrupt.
Really doesnt matter what party they represent, they all fall into the same cesspit.
I agree with all the above.
Whilst we need immigration to bolster growth of the economy it is important we look after those who are here before inviting more in or we end up with the problem we have now. I just want to state I am not against immigration but the government needs to ensure infrastructure is in place first.
I am behind you Cathy %100 all . Governments and councils should be able to work something out.
You can be homeless and not be a grub. Some of these homeless just trash wherever they camp. Just keep it clean neat and tidy.
Totally agree. I live on the Fraser Coast and see these shanty towns popping up everywhere. We have had an increase in breaking in every suburb. Rubbish thrown in the bushes or just left everywhere even though bins are provided. I as well as many other residents use the doggy poo bags to clean up the area
Equally – you can be a grub and NOT be homeless ( possibly many more in that category
Best comment in the entire discussion!
I know an area around the northern beach ofTrinity Beach Cairns was policed more people advised to move on and apparently it was back packers destroying the area and using the little bit of vegetation as a toilet even though one was provided It is a huge problem in isolated areas in Qld outback and Cape York areas Its not the majority but there are people.from the city who go travelling “Outback ” that don’t carry their own rubbish out use our wilderness areas as toilets They don’t bury their waste or have their own toilets .They tip their grey water into waterways or near creeks or contiminate the drainage into the ecosystems They encourage feral animals to the campsite and dangerous animals like crocs by leaving fishing scraps.I have experienced this first hand I was at Henrietta Ck in the prestine rainforest NP in the tropics and found a trailer load of domestic rubbish dumped in a camp site next our beautiful natural tropical mountain creek Not sure who was responsible but I had to ring NP to advice because my car boot was too small to remove it all.Our council lock public toilets between 5.00 pm and 6.ooam at free camp sites to stop unruly behaviour.Not sure that is a good idea. We have care taker where possible at our free sites to collect donations and keep an eye on the site but they can’t always get someone.We advertise a two month free camping as opposed to the 72 hour stay only Also council mows grass empty bin and maintains toilets yet there are probably up to 100 campers per night yet the coin donation reveal there are more campers don’t. donate than do.Those sites come out of local rates.I cant afford to travel and camp much these days but I resent subsidising sites of people who could well pay their way by donating a few dollars to a free camp site.Thats my opinion
Well stated!!!
Well said mate
A lot of these people have mental illnesses that should be addressed first
Yes you’re right Wally. Most of them do.
Totally agree , most are just trying to make ends meet .
During the Great Depression there were ‘homeless camps’ for those most affected. Perhaps a bit of lateral thinking by shire councils? For example in the shire in which I live there are six showgrounds but overnight camping is allowed at only one. A coastal and hinterland shire there are quite a number who would fit the window as homeless campers. ( I might add there a quite a few taking advantage of the situation in quite smart setups). Lets open up one of those showgrounds for those in the homeless cohort. It provides a central secure location, ranger free, with facilities and at minimal cost to the occupant. The friction of those camping in carparks by the beach etc is also eased.
What a perfect short-term solution, why is our government not providing this? It’s almost as if they don’t care that their citizens are without homes, shelter, and food… why do these incompetent people with a lack of compassion and integrity have rights over us? I’m confused by this…
Because showgrounds are run by show societies many who do it voluntarily who then are responsible for maintenance and rubbish removals and toilet maintenance . Once again it’s the cost of maintenance and show societies are responsible for shows not homeless people. Yes I have camped in show grounds in country areas overnight.But have kept it in spotless conditions and I am sure many do if you check things out buy not for permanent homeless
I totally agree ware else are these poor people going to sleep may I add
I agree it would be a good idea to set up these campgrounds/large areas around the different States with amenities and cooking/ barbeque. Give someone a job to monitor this and collect any fees owing.
Security would be part of this, another job for someone.
If the local councils were smart the they could make money from this, which could then be invested into tiny homes to keep the process moving forward.
Any drug or alcohol affected tenants could be given the option of rehab. If they refuse their tenancy on the site is terminated.
Ppl with varying mental health issues could be given the option of entering into a public mental health facility again this will creating jobs for ppl. I’m also aware that we have a huge shortage of rehab centres and mental health facilities.
This is coming from someone who is on a pension and paying $330 per week for a room.
Brilliant idea !
If you are fully self contained you should be able to camp wherever you want as you only leave footprints.
Roger… I agree with your self contained comment … but rubbish everywhere is the issue… and that puts everyone offside looking for someone to blame…
Keep Australia Beautiful!
Councils supply enough bins!!
Yes the York Peninsula in South Australia is certainly an area where Council Rangers act like German Gestapos. They were rude, abrupt and accusing and refused to listen or have any sort of common sense or compassion!
I was there for a short time in a modern custom built, “fully self contained and fully self sufficient” motor camper vehicle.
I’m living in this due to having to be on the aged Pension which is a paultry $1140 a fortnight (less than $600 a week!!) which like many others, leaves one no longer able to afford a house or a place to Rent!! Just as well as one is a non drinker or smoker.
The York Peninsula Rangers there are only interested in handing out fines!!
In a spot where I’d first stopped with a vehicle mechanical problem (engine overheating!), being 3 metres off the road out of anybody’s way on a quiet road in Port Clinton and after checking there were “no” no parking or stopping signs anywhere at the location, a money hungry Council Ranger threatened to write me out a fine on the spot even though I clearly had and was dealing with the engine fault!!
At another out of the way location were I’d stopped for a night with “no” no parking or stopping signs, another Ranger (apparently under a directive from the first!!) did slap me with a fine!
So yes people, if you’re thinking of travelling or holidaying the York Peninsula, recommend to choose another location.
Cheers and happier travels.
I’m about to start this journey myself. I’m in a caravan was staying in a caravan park on the Sunshine Coast and my lease is up on Sunday. I’ve been trying to obtain a rental property without any luck. With the amount of people looking at the same properties, a bit of luck is what you need. I’m looking at another 4 today from here to Brisbane. My hope now is that since I don’t need to give the require 2 weeks notice it might open up my potential of getting a property if I can move straight in. Who can afford to be doubling up on rent for 2 weeks otherwise, not me. Another thing that makes obtaining a property difficult is you can’t even apply for theses properties without inspecting in person. Many with open times not suitable for a working individual. So Yes, as of Sunday I will be staying at these camps until I can obtain a rental, however long that may be
I believe rest areas in all states should have at least a 72 hour legal period to stay. Travellers are better resting than being on the road. You can’t stop travellers in vans etc as they are going to park somewhere .
Better to be somewhere safe off the road.
A different issue is the homeless and vulnerable.
Grounds will have to be made for homeless people , the numbers are growing and will continue. We cannot ignore it and push them aside. People who have never thought to be in this position, are , with the economy the way it is. Crown land should be made available with facilities . Everyone is entitled to have a safe haven to live.
Open up the show grounds
I’m in this situation, I have a dog and can’t afford a house with a backyard in my home town of Wollongong, so I live in my van and lucky I have some family I can leave my dog with when I work. I have noticed though there are some people that trash everything I guess they got nowhere else to go but I agree clean up after yourself don’t be a grub.
I have… And I have moved from the happy traveller days to the rising homeless days.
Places I used to go to for rest and relaxation are now very busy with desperate people looking for a place to stay put for a while.
I have a ford transit that just coughed up a lung last week…. So I’m stuck without a car, away from home with 3 Kelpies.
Places I know of in the area that I once would have camped up in while waiting on the car repairs, I wouldn’t feel safe staying at now. Not in a popular area I’ve found myself.
I spent six months homeless around Australia twenty years ago. I camped everywhere without any drama. Although I narrowly missed that serial killer guy up the northern territory who killed Peter falconio. We kept a clean house, never left a mark on the landscape. It’s possible to live out of a van and free park as long as you are not in the heart of tourist territory. It really helped to get us through a difficult time financially. I could not imagine how much more difficult it is now with the cost of accommodation etc. We went in to become tax payers and renters and eventually home owners. Sometimes people just need a bit of a break to get through hard times. Give them the space they need. We’re all children of the earth, and this after all is our only home.
So true well seid
There are plenty of cheap houses and rentals out west in regional areas. These country towns need more people to stay alive.
Get away from the expensive coastal areas and join a lovely country community.
The worst I’ve seen was at a short stay campsite just out of Charters Towers. People have actually planted trees and shrubs around their campers. A few had 1000 litre IBCs full of water next to their campers/buses. 2 lots of campers were fighting over their dogs. Another fella with several dogs was shovelling dog shit away from his large tent setup.
Mt Molloy Qld tgere were several yoyng men camping in vans and tents. There was a toilet block with hot showers. 24 or 36hr stopover, been there for weeks. They were travelling into Port Douglas everyday for work.
I’m just grateful that I was able to leave Australia when i did and to have the life I’m sure Australia can no longer give , I really do feel sorry for the younger generation coming through, so many will be trapped in Australia without a hope of a decent life
Sooo where do you live now? I didn’t think there was anywhere better than Australia.
Rural areas are not where the Workers are needed & the jobs are – isn’t that true? Unless you have to do a job you hate.
If I was young & housing unlucky I would also leave Australia, or if I had to stay, not have children.
Otherwise it is setting you & them up for poverty, bc our economy is rigged to maximize profits (which means maximizing your costs) of those with the most assets.
The system is rigged.
I hope younger generation changes it.
Their are two types of homeless people,the law abiding,like me ,and then there are the scum bag meth heads who ruin it for the rest. A police man once told me that virtually all street people who are mentally ill,got that way via drugs,I believe him. All meth heads are thieves and can occasionally be very violent. Sadly all the none drug addicts get tared with the same brush.You can usually tell a meth head by there teeth their filthy and occasionally rotten.,and they look sallow faced and dirty.Their also hoarders ,dead give away ,with junk strewn every where with junky vehicle ,tents and caravans ,basically zero pride in appearance.
Not true about mental illness. I now have PTSD due to an attack at work. I will never work again. I lost everything. I now live in a caravan with dogs. I’ve never taken drugs,I don’t drink or smoke. I dress nice and my site is clean. I actually have a hard time trying to find somewhere to park safe and not get things stolen. Not all homeless should be put in the same category. I would love a roof over my head and not have to worry.
Zak not all homeless people are meth heads so you are wring and so was the police officer who told you this rubbish…have some compassion..you don’t know why these people ended up like this !! Everyone has a reason not Everyone has a choice!
Having a roof over your head is a basic human right. We need to develop stage 1 and 2 stepping stones to achieve that. Councils need to expand well setviced Caravan Parks as a step 1 initiative. Step 2 is to allow tiny homes in more jurisdictions. Step 3 is then about building more social housing. We are less productive as a country and we need to accept our lowering living standards.As a country we don’t support entrepreneuralism to create new wealth. Councils need to move away from their 19th century business model and accept our new reality and develop business models that are sync with now.
If Councils don’t wake up to the realities of this era then ghettos will form and there is nothing Councils or the police can do about it. You will be overwhelmed with challenges.
Unfortunately Councils are on the front line of this new reality and most are ill equipment to think differently because of there zero risk mindset.
All is needed is for albo to grow a pair before people take to the streets and demand human rights shame on the leaders for ignoring the housing to get to this point it won’t go away.
It should be treated like a refugee issue and get camps organised properly by experts with toilets showed etc.
By the way I spent my surfing time in 70s camped in station wagon in main street of Coolangatta. Different world.
Many thoughts. Drugs are rampant thanks to bikie gang dealers.
Drugs do create chaos and mental illness. Issue #1.
Every council must build transition housing. Social housing has a long way to go in terms of design and with the building crisis -a long timeframe to build.
There is a grand history of caravaning in Australia! There is also a lot of land! Council owned, other government agency owned which could be parcelled out for transition ecological modular tiny footprint builds.
Social services are stretched however alternates to housing are popping up-home shares, TH villages, multi person home sites for the self aware -not too many for those in need of both home and health services.
Councils must act.
Should developers be required to provide small footprint villages for vulnerable populations?
Both Councils and developers are profiting from 700+ home developments.
You don’t need to go to a camp-site to see this. Your local parks will probably have a few homeless people/families that need to use the facilities. Sad but true.
Bad enough being homeless…. clean up after yourself. Some of the conditions they live in are appalling, no wonder they attract the ire of locals and Councils alike.
As a caretaker of a SA Showgrounds I’m noticing a lot more ppl experiencing homelessness and wanting to stay long term in tents and old caravans. Some of these are ppl who have jobs, families and singles. Homelessness no longer discriminates.
Homelessness doesn’t bother me, but filthy & untidy camps piss me off. Just laziness.
What the hell are the RBA waiting for???
Has anyone realised that homelessness has increased since Covid?? I’m a Grey Nomad have stayed in camps where there are homeless and have NOT found them to be antisocial or dangerous. Blame the government and local councils. Help these folk! Do not Make life more difficult or move them on ! There are school Kids
Involved they live in tents , imagine going to School and telling your friends . I blame the Government totally .
Illegal campers are not necessarily homeless but their activities are affecting genuine travellers. Central Coast Council, and others, currently have policies that assume all campers (tents, caravans and motorhomes) are homeless without any identity checks or controls. Accordingly, campers are currently allowed permanent residence on the Coast literally anywhere they choose.
Campers are taking up residence on sensitive public property and car parks mostly without proper sanitation or regard to lawful residents. Bad social behaviour and drug abuse is common.
Council Rangers are ‘forbidden’ to interfere with them or move them on. Police often need to attend and may offer free alternative accommodation but are often refused because campers don’t want to conform to any rules in such accommodation. Police are powerless to move them on. Something has to give.
There’s a perfectly good unit where I am, in public housing, empty for months (as tenant has been made a ward of the state).
I’m wondering how many public units/houses are empty when they can be easily occupied by someone desperate!!
I hope I’m anonymous as I would hate to get into trouble with The Dept of Housing!!
Homelessness is up approximately 22% in 2023-2024. I agree with Fraser Coast Council talking with the homeless person(s) and discussing alternatives, directing the homeless to support services that may be able to help. And, if support services are unable to immediately assist then a designated area with shower facilities and 24 hour security so the homeless have a safe place to camp until alternative arrangements can be established.