While on their travels, most grey nomads will have seen some evidence of the homelessness crisis impacting many parts of Australia
The growing number of people struggling to find a place to call home has resulted in more of them attempting to stay long term in bush camps and budget campsites.
This has created a range of issues that many local authorities have struggled to address, particularly as they seek to be sensitive to the needs of those facing very difficult situations.
In Queensland, the City of Moreton Bay has sought to be proactive by announcing that a new free camping site for tents will be provided at Wyllie Park, Petrie.
There will be free camping for tents at Wyllie Park. PIC: City of Moreton Bay
The site, which includes a current overnight camping area, is well serviced by toilets and refuse facilities and will be monitored by CCTV and regular security patrols.
The camping ground will be available to all, including for people experiencing homelessness, as a voluntary, no-cost, option.
City of Moreton Bay Mayor, Peter Flannery, stressed the Wyllie Park free camping site was not an alternative to established crisis accommodation or emergency housing.
“The State Government is responsible for crisis accommodation and longer-term community housing, but the council faces increased pressure on its public parks from people experiencing homelessness,” Cr Flannery said. “We have listened to our residents, and those groups who work in this area, and felt the need to provide a free option for those homeless who can no longer stay in our public parks and spaces.”
He said it was an issue of safety and public health and hygiene.
Councillor Jim Moloney said the decision was an attempt to provide a viable alternative for those people experiencing homelessness.
“Unfortunately, the council has been placed in a difficult position as we are not responsible for crisis accommodation, but it is our parks and public spaces which are coming under increasing pressure from those experiencing homelessness,” he said. “Wyllie Park provides a viable alternative to our public parks while also being a free option for those looking for a camping site.”
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This is a really sensible response to homelessness that has been caused by a very irresponsible Federal Government. All councils, including mine, the City of Busselton here in Western Australia should address this serious problem. It’s not always the persons fault that they aren’t wealthy but wealthy people don’t understand that.
More shires and city councils should adopt this approach then it is controlled in one area rather than spread out all over the place and needing more patrolling and policing
I’m not wealthy and I have to pay rates to live on my block of land
I agree, having a well serviced area, with security makes good sense. Well done morton council.
A sensible solution to provide some form of stability for those in need of support. If no-one provides stability then those in this situation remind homeless. Moreton council is doing what has to be done. Compassion for others is a step in the right direction.
Totally agree. Help homeless people for sure.
More places need to definitely get on board with the concept. Moving people on from spot to spot only spreads the problems far and wide instead of having groups, also would help making these places a point of contact for emergency assistance and easier to monitor and assist people to change thier situations. Then again is that really what the government organisations want? To make life 1000% easier on themselves as well as the client?
It’s an orderly, well thought out solution, within walking distance of shops, train station and a bus. Can be serviced easily by Orange sky, Nourish St and other charities, and it’s safer for those who, for any number of reasons including an underwhelming response from State and Federal, are homeless.
As long as the council Rangers make sure they keep their area is kept clean and tidy I think it’s a good idea.
It all sounds wonderful, but is really just a good way of getting them out of the public parks and putting them somewhere out of the main stream public places . Ive seen it in American cities , get them out of our public parks so the tourists don’t see them. BUT it does nothing for yht real problem of automation, AI taking jobs and mass Immigration with no proper means to cater for them. Just a band aid solution for a much bigger problem. I am sorry but I don’t have a solution either except maybe slowing down some of the things above.
a GREAT idea. BUT lets hope, the people that are homeless & camp there. DONT, just throw their rubbish out on the ground…..if council IS PREPAIRED to try and look after you….then its up to you to do the right thing by the council. AND CLEAN UP AFTER YOU.
any idea should be pursued with care, not an easy fix though
Putting homeless in a place where they can at least have water and sanitary facilities is a good thing. However, security is paramount as many homeless have made themselves homeless by poor choices in life and won’t be the best neighbours to the rest of the park. Sound rather harsh? Yeah…it is harsh. Keep up with the security…..
Being homeless and living in a converted motor bus for the past 10 years it’s becoming harder to find a place to
park for any length of time. In Qld the coast is not affordable. Inland towns are ruled by the caravan parks. And when they advertise RV friendly it’s, buy our food, fuel and check out the sites, then get lost.
Well done Moreton bay council, let us hope the rest of the council’s in the country also have a bit of decency and empathy.
Why is the government’s and councils so easily duped into the homeless situation that has grown all out of proportion due to the eagerness of do gooders contributing to the rapidly growing problems faced by the real people who need the help and the leechers that just want to budge of the system,
How often are checks done to assertion that what they are being told is the truth.
How many charities are in Australia you maybe surprised what a lucrative business they are mostly volunteers in the jobs, and large companies at the head maybe you should check up before working for free and see where the profits go CEO,s annual salary for one, why don’t they work for free..
Yes the council should be congratulated they are helping homeless people
It’s far more than the federal LABOUR government are doing remember when they said no Australian citizens would be left behind
Well done !! I hope someone in the Rockhampton council sees this and follows their lead . Most public spaces on the North Side are unusable for rate payers. Very sad
Thanks for the opportunity to comment,
I have long suggested that it is the responsibility of council/s to provide social housing in their area, it was always that way, so what has changed?
Enough housing to fit their situation and the needs of the social deprived is a responsibility that our community/ councils have sadly let drop
So a short term campsite is a step in the right direction but the solution is to build purpose housing, that is suitable for the needs of these homeless folks, never sold so always available for these emergencies.
This is step one, step two, build enough housing to house long-term needs of the homeless in the area.
Come on guys, it’s not so hard. Stop throwing money out and get to the root of the problem.. stop waiting for someone else to resolve your responsibilities. Business only does things for profit, so don’t expect them to solve this problem
Charlie
It’s great and it should be a wake up to All other Councils and State run areas.
Fingers crossed it goes to plan
About time councils started picking up the pace it’s not a house but it’s somewhere at least until something permanent becomes available
Great idea for the genuine we have them in a park near in logan us there got no respect for the residents the park or anything this lot need to be moved
I am a little confused. I reside in a caravan park and they are kicking paying customers onto the street and have vacant vans. These people will move to Wyllie Park now for free. Please explain.
Good idea, however I believe they should be paying at least $100/week towards the maintenance, toilets, toilet paper, water, cleaning gear and garbage removal as well as a ranger cheking every day these areas are kept clean. Otherwise it comes out of the rate payers pockets and I can tell you I am not going to be happy about that.
This is a great idea we need people to step up and try and help these people to get a start to something better, instead of being pushed from one place to another , it should be set up all around the country ,we should help those who are down on there luck ,great idea
I feel it’s a great idea,there should be one in townsville,as the cost of living is out of control
Yes more councils should do it it would provide safety and hygiene and relief
Great idea hope vehicle owners can park next to tent
I was made homeless by the Dan Andrews government shut downs of my business. Melbourne is riddled with homeless people and families now. Open the parks because it is the government who purposefully did this to good hard working Australians