Moreton Bay Regional Council installs new parking signs to curb the number of people sleeping overnight in a car park

A LOCAL council has installed new parking signs at a popular park in a bid to curb the number of homeless people staying there overnight.

After Dark Saints’ Josh Malcolm and Tat, and The Breakfast Club's Helen Bambling run an outreach program for the homeless on the Redcliffe Peninsula. Photo: Erin Smith

NEW parking restrictions at a popular park in southeast Queensland have forced a whole community of homeless to scatter.

On any given night up to 30 people are sleeping rough on the Redcliffe Peninsula, just north of Brisbane.

Many with no bed, no food and no warm clothes.

The car park at Pelican Park, Clontarf, was a safe haven for those living out of their cars.

It offered a sense of security, access to amenities and a place for them gather together.

Moreton Bay Regional Council has installed new signs at the car park which state the spaces can only be used by cars with boat trailers.

The other car parks in the area are all restricted to five-hour parking.

A Moreton Bay Regional Council spokesman said: “the regulatory signs were installed after council received numerous complaints from local residents about the use of the car park area”.

Parking just a car in the space could result in a $85 fine.

The Breakfast Club of Redcliffe social worker Helen Bambling said those living on the streets or in cars were forced to find a safe place, out of the way every night.

Ms Bambling, runs an night time outreach program for the homeless alongside fellow charity organisation After Dark Saints. She said the new restrictions made it event harder for people to find a safe place to sleep.

Ms Bambling said the move affected the whole community as those visiting the area also had less places to park.

The outreach program

Two charity groups are working tirelessly to ensure those doing it tough on the Peninsula have food in their bellies, a warm place to sleep and that they are okay.

The Breakfast Club of Redcliffe and After Dark Saints spend most nights driving around the Peninsula delivering the much-needed items and a friendly chat.

I went along on the outreach run on June 29.

I was aware homelessness was a problem on the Peninsula but not how widespread it was.

The vans stopped to help people at Clontarf, Margate, Kippa-Ring and Redcliffe.

When the vans pulled up, with the music playing, people gathered eager for a chat, hot meals and warm drink.

The Breakfast Club social worker Helen Bambling said there was never a night that they did not come across someone sleeping on the street, in a car or in a tent on the beach.

“Every night is different,” Ms Bambling said. “You don’t know what will happen when you walk out.”

One man, who did not wish to be named, was sporting a large smile as he approached the dedicated volunteers.

“You came all this way just for me,” he said. “I am so touched.”