Southport CBD homeless camp dismantled as rough sleepers head south to Surfers Paradise
A homeless camp in the heart of the Southport CBD has been dismantled by police and council workers. But the rough sleepers say they are not moving far.
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A growing homeless camp in the heart of the Southport CBD has been dismantled as police and council workers arrived at the Carey Park site fronting the Broadwater Parklands.
But the rough sleepers say they are not moving far – just a five minute stroll down the highway to Surfers Paradise.
The Bulletin spotted campers rushing to pack their belongings in a trolley as City workers moved larger items and rubbish onto a truck just before 10am on Wednesday.
Several police officers maintained a watch on the perimeter of the site as workers began the clean-up.
Officers spoke briefly to the campers who agreed to move on. Mikey Raps who was helping some of the homeless said they had been told they could stay at another nearby location, hidden from the highway but close to toilet facilities. He estimated up to eight people were sleeping in the larger of three tents, many of them long term rough campers.
“They’re allowed to stay (in the area). We have women and older people. That’s why they sleep around the toilet blocks,” Mr Raps said.
The homeless cohort rejected suggestions that they have been security threat in the park area saying they have been long term campers.
Residents earlier this month complained to both to the council and The Bulletin about the homeless camp opposite Australia Fair shopping centre.
Police had visited the camp site along with a new state government housing support team focusing on homeless hot spots.
The plan had been to remove the camp site a week ago and then at midnight on Monday.
“I’ve working with the acting CEO while the CEO (Tim Baker) was in Paris on this for the last couple of weeks, engaging the appropriate authorities and police ensuring all the legal steps were in place to do it properly,” she said.
“And they’ve been provided full access to services.”
Told the homeless had found another site within walking distance of the CBD, Ms Patterson said: “They’ve been offered places. If they choose to accept or don’t – you know, that’s where we are at.”
Residents recently told The Bulletin solutions at government levels were not working.
“Southport has long had a problem with homelessness and drugs, Woolworths and Coles in Australia Fair now have security guards due to the out of control shoplifting,” a resident said.
“The core of the problem here seems to be drugs and alcohol. I have seen it first hand, drugs are openly dealt on the streets around Australia Fair.
“I don’t know what the solution is, but whatever the government is doing it is not working.”
Welfare agencies, on the latest count, say there are 42 people who are camping in parks and shop laneways between the Sundale Bridge and Charis Seafoods at Biggera Waters.
The bigger picture sees more than 900 people homeless across the city.
Despite disturbing images in Southport, city leaders say the homeless crisis is worse on the Coast’s southern end.
All stakeholders agree it will be at least two years before low-cost housing is built and provides decent accommodation for the Southport homeless.
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