Queensland council to turn park into dedicated homeless camp

Moreton Bay Council in Queensland is launching a 12-month trial to establish a free, legal campsite for individuals experiencing homelessness in Wyllie Park. The park, already equipped with basic facilities, will offer 60 sites. This initiative follows a Supreme Court ruling in March that found the council had violated the human rights of homeless campers by evicting them from public spaces without providing alternatives. Mayor Peter Flannery stated the camp's goal is to centralize support services, stating, "Rather than being scattered across our whole city, let's get them into one location where they can be supported and have some safety." He acknowledged the court's finding, adding, "We did learn from the court case that we shouldn't have asked them to move to somewhere when there was nowhere else to go, so this is providing that somewhere else to go."

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Rather than being scattered across our whole city, let's get them into one location where they can be supported and have some safety.

However, the plan faces skepticism from Beau Haywood, founder of the charity Nourish Street. While welcoming the announcement, Haywood expressed concern that the trial might be a "band-aid solution" and a "knee-jerk reaction" from the council. He highlighted the diverse and complex needs of the homeless population, which includes families, the elderly, individuals with mental health issues, addiction, and vulnerable women. Haywood noted that his charity, which serves a significant number of rough sleepers in the area, was not consulted by the council. "We're one of the largest [charities] in this area. So, it was a bit disappointing once again that no-one was really sort of spoken to about what was happening or how it was going to be addressed," he said.

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We did learn from the court case that we shouldn't have asked them to move to somewhere when there was nowhere else to go, so this is providing that somewhere else to go.

Haywood also questioned the adequacy of the 60-site limit, pointing out that Nourish Street's recent outreach identified 174 homeless sites in the region. He warned that simply offering tent space without sufficient support, security, and clear pathways to permanent housing could create new problems. The council's initiative aims to address immediate needs and comply with human rights rulings, but critics argue it may not tackle the root causes of homelessness or provide adequate long-term solutions for the growing number of people affected.

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Homelessness is not a single group of people.