Resident backlash spills into growing tent city at Carey Park
Tent city supporters and local residents have clashed at Carey Park in Southport as tensions mount over the controversial encampment. SEE THE VIDEO
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Tensions have flared between Southport residents and tent city homeless, with a local woman angered by rubbish declaring: “It’s beyond a joke”.
The woman and a middle-aged man were filmed confronting an advocate for people camped at Carey Park on Thursday.
It came just hours after council officials accompanied by police had handed out notices giving homeless 24 hours to leave or have their property seized.
The exchange was sparked by rubbish on a footpath, which advocates said had been left there by council.
“I highly doubt that they would have done that. I’m calling you a liar,” the man told volunteers.
Rex, who has been at the camp most days, replied in a polite tone: “That’s okay. You are allowed to call me a liar. You asked me a question, I answered it. Have a lovely day.”
A female resident with the man walked off but then stopped and asked why the rubbish was not moved, teeing off a further argument.
Female resident: “We live here. We see it. It’s just getting beyond a joke, it really is.”
Rex: “Well, maybe let them into your home. Maybe they won’t be here. That’s an option.”
Female resident: “There’s a caravan park (up the road).”
Rex: “They can’t afford the caravan park. It cost money to stay there. They were staying there pre-cyclone and they had to be moved there (for free stay) for safety reasons. And they haven’t been able to go back.”
Female resident: “We also see the drug deals going on as well.”
Rex: “There are no drugs down at this camp.”
Female resident: “I’d love to see a drug test going through.”
Supporters said they would clean up the rubbish which sparked the confrontation, which they did later.
The pair were not the only ones making their feelings known, with a young female CBD worker earlier telling the Bulletin: “They’re a bunch of ferals. They had a bonfire last night.”
While supporters acknowledge some drug and alcohol use may have occurred in smaller camps, they say they have not witnessed it in public at Carey Park.
Community advocate Ember Lenarduzzi, who was with Rex and watched the dispute, said: “A lot of them (the homeless) do have issues. A lot of them need extra support with that.
“Unfortunately that’s where our local and State governments are failing. There are many, many factors that go into homelessness. It’s not just mental health, cost of living.
“A lot have physical disabilities as well and can’t work. The thing about here is they have safety in numbers. On the street, they are alone, they’re an easy target, it’s a lot more unsafe. Without the tents, they can exposed to very dramatic changes in temperature, the weather and elements. It’s not liveable.”
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