Gold Coast Council to Patrol Homeless Hotspots Amid Rift with Support Services

The Gold Coast City Council's assertive approach to homelessness, focusing on "compliance-led" policies and increased patrols in known hotspots, signals a hardening stance on public space management. This strategy, which includes fines and confiscation of belongings for illegal camping, has unfortunately led to a breakdown in cooperation with vital support services, who argue that such measures merely shift the problem rather than solve it.

The council's Planning and Regulation Committee's decision to implement a "place-based" approach means officers will proactively patrol areas frequented by rough sleepers, rather than waiting for public complaints. Deputy Mayor Mark Hammel acknowledges the need to balance public space safety with compassion, but stresses that "dwelling supply issues and cost of living issues are going to increase this problem." He suggests that persistent enforcement might deter individuals from re-establishing camps.

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Dwelling supply issues and cost of living issues are going to increase this problem. There is no silver bullet.

However, this policy has exacerbated an existing rift with the Gold Coast Homelessness Network, which suspended cooperation with the council in May 2025 due to concerns about the effectiveness and humanity of its approach. The sheer volume of complaints—over 3,300 regarding homelessness and nearly 3,000 concerning people living in vehicles between May 2025 and February this year—highlights the scale of the challenge. While the council issued around 1,500 move-on notices and 19 fines, the effectiveness of these measures is questioned by those on the front lines of support.

From a local perspective in Australia, this situation reflects a broader national debate about how to address homelessness. While the council's primary role is maintaining public spaces, the Supreme Court's earlier ruling against the City of Moreton Bay's eviction of homeless campers for violating human rights serves as a stark reminder of the legal and ethical boundaries. The Gold Coast's policy, while deemed "reasonable and demonstrably justified" by the council, walks a fine line, and its long-term impact on both the homeless population and the community remains a critical concern.

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If council is going to be here as soon as I move to another park, do I just accept the [support] services being offered to me? It may help many just go, 'This is too difficult to keep moving.'