50 homeless shifted from Musgrave Park ahead of Paniyiri Greek Festival

Homelessness services have collected 50 people living in a Brisbane park, with those remaining to have their tents fenced in ahead of the start of a major festival.

Homelessness services have collected 50 people from Musgrave Park to shift them to accommodation ahead of the Paniyiri Greek Festival next weekend.

State government authorities moved the people after weeks of concern regarding how the rapidly growing homeless population would coexist with the festival.

The Greek festival is expected to be held on May 20 and May 21 and fencing will begin on Monday until the Wednesday the week after the event Paniyiri organising committee co-chairman Chris Kazonis said around 50 people had been moved until Thursday. On Friday more were seen being shifted.

Street to Home staff help pack up tents at Musgrave Park, in the lead up to the Paniyiri Greek Festival next week.

Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner confirmed with The Courier-Mail last week that the people living in the park would not be moved by council. Instead they have been moved by the state government.

A Department of Communities, Housing and Digital Economy spokeswoman said the Queensland government was continuing to outreach to ensure people experiencing homelessness were supported.

“We have activated a dedicated Housing Pathways team who has been working with key stakeholders to support people experiencing or at risk of homelessness in the Brisbane Local Government area, including Musgrave Park,” she said.

Street to Home staff help pack up tents at Musgrave Park, in the lead up to the Paniyiri Greek Festival next week.

“Alternative accommodation options have been identified and are available, including additional accommodation in boarding houses and local funded Specialist Homelessness Services.”

Mr Kazonis said the remaining people still living in Musgrave Park would be ­offered free entry in and out of the event.

“There will be fencing behind the people living in the park,” he said.

“They can walk straight out like they do into the street. It just means to go through the park they will have to go through the main entrances which they will have free access to.”

Street to Home staff were on hand to help pack up tents at Musgrave Park, in the lead up to the Paniyiri Greek Festival next week.