Homeless to be moved to Brisbane student highrise

The Government quietly announced on Good Friday that it has leased an up-market student highrise to house needy people at risk of coronavirus.

About 300 homeless and people at risk of becoming homeless will be moved from hostels in West End and Spring Hill into an up-market Toowong student highrise building.

Housing Minister Mick de Brenni made the announcement on Good Friday, without consulting the local councillor or residents.

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About 280, mainly Chinese, students studying at the nearby University of Queensland agreed to move to another student accommodation building run by the same company, Scape.

The Government has negotiated a 12-month tenancy with Scape over the 500-room Atira building on Glen Rd, but it has not been revealed how much the deal will cost taxpayers.

The building has been removed from Atira’s booking website, but a similar building owned by the company at Buranda is renting rooms for about $65-$75 a night.

The Atira highrise student accommodation in Toowong will house about 300 at-risk people after the Government struck a one-year lease deal with owner Scape. Picture: AAP/Jono Searle

Atira Glen Rd has been half empty since the Federal Government imposed a travel ban on non-citizens entering Australia from China.

James Mackay, the LNP Councillor for the local Walter Taylor ward, said while he fully supported the need to look after vulnerable Brisbane residents, Mr de Brenni had not gone about it in a transparent way.

“This is a 12 month impact on the local community, yet no residents were consulted and the first I heard about it was early this afternoon, secondhand not through official channels ((Thursday April 16).

“They’ve done this under the cover of Easter. What have they got to hide?

“These people desperately need our help, but that’s not the issue here — what I’m angry about is the fact that the Government has totally disregarded the local community.

“When were they going to tell us? Anyone who supports the way this process was handled should be ashamed of themselves.’’

It is understood Indooroopilly police will have to increase patrols of the area once the move, which was scheduled to begin tomorrow under the guidance of Queensland Health officials, was finished.

Victoria made a similar decision to house its homeless and vulnerable citizens in hotel accommodation, and local care groups have been arguing for weeks that Queensland needed to do the same to protect them from coronavirus.

Bric Housing, St Vincent de Paul, Mission Australia and the Salvation Army were consulted with on the arrangement.

“Whether it’s joining the Care Army, or giving up your own home to save lives, this initiative shows young Queenslanders are a generation we can all be proud of,” Mr de Brenni said.

“While we’re all doing our bit to stay healthy, the Palaszczuk Government has partnered with apartment operator Scape and its young residents to secure self-contained apartments for over 500 Queenslanders with current living arrangements that risk coronavirus spread.

“I extend my sincere thanks to the students and staff for “making a move the greater good”.

“Their decision will absolutely save lives, in fact it could save thousands of lives.”

Craig Carracher, from Scape, said the Atira students understood the move was for the greater good.

“If we can assist in flattening the curve, the whole community will benefit,” he said.

to provide these homes,” Mr de Brenni said.

“The new residents will have around-the-clock security and support, with meals and laundry service available too,’’ Mr de Brenni said.

Mr Carracher said they had up to 2000 empty beds across their six student living building.

Mission Australia Queensland director Darren Young said there was concern in the sector about how to stop the spread of COVID-19 in the homeless community.

At hostels such as Roma House in Spring Hill the residents lived close together and use common areas.

Moving to Atira would allow them to self isolate.

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