City of Moreton Bay mayor calls for state government to open up showgrounds for homeless

The mayor of a South East Queensland council that this week made homeless camping a crime has revealed a radical plan to help those sleeping rough.

City of Moreton Bay Mayor Peter Flannery. Picture: David Clark

Homeless people banned from camping in Moreton Bay streets and parks should be allowed to live at showgrounds, according to the city’s mayor.

The City of Moreton this week announced that all forms of homeless camping would be criminalised from March 12.

Speaking to The Courier-Mail, Mayor Peter Flannery said there were at least 137 people sleeping rough in the Moreton Bay.

Cr Flannery said a solution could be for the Queensland government to waive restrictions and allow homeless people to live at state-owned showgrounds.

“We’ve had many meetings with different ministers of both sides of politics over the past two to three years trying to find solutions that we would support. One that always comes up is the showgrounds,” Cr Flannery said.

“We’ve said we’re happy to support it if they want to look at those kind of approaches.”

Cr Flannery said security would be needed, along with power, water and other facilities to make showgrounds liveable.

“We did some pricing at one at Redcliffe and it was going to cost a couple of million dollars just to set it up. And then there’s ongoing operation costs,” he said.

“So we said that’s something that council shouldn’t be burdened with. It's a state government responsibility ... but we are happy to support that.”

Some of the people evicted from Gayndah Coastal Arboretum. Picture: Josh Woning

Cr Flannery said the criminalisation of homeless camping brought the City of Moreton in line with other South East Queensland councils.

He said council officers started engaging with homeless people about the changes on Thursday.

It comes after widespread backlash over the council ban on homeless people from keeping pets of sleeping in fans, with a petition opposing the move attracting 13,000 signatures.

Last week, several people sleeping rough at Gayundah Coastal Arboretum, Woody Point, were evicted after “human waste” and “drug paraphernalia” were found at the site.

People sleeping rough at Gayndah Coastal Arboretum, Woody Point. Picture: Josh Woning

“The department housing came in and offered everybody that was camping there accommodation – three people took up that offer, another 10 said they were staying here,” Cr Flannery said.

City of Moreton Bay CEO Scott Waters said the change would benefit the region’s homeless population.

“The health and safety of people experiencing homelessness is core to this change and repealing the framework will enable these individuals to get the critical support they need,” Mr Waters said.

Local Government Minister Ann Leahy told The Courier-Mail it was “a matter for the council under their local laws”.