Belmore Park: We pay $3000 a day for private security guards to patrol homeless enclave
EXCLUSIVE: Belmore Park, opposite Central Station, is one of Sydney’s busiest spaces but it has become an embarrassing eyesore - and the hiring of security guards is costing ratepayers a fortune.
NSW
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RATEPAYERS are being slugged almost $3000 a day for private security guards to patrol Belmore Park’s homeless enclave, where drug abuse is fuelling rocketing rates of crime and violence in the city’s heart.
In what is fast becoming Sydney’s greatest embarrassment, dozens of homeless people continue to live in squalid tents and makeshift shelters at the park in front of Central Station, with drugs and grog fuelling frequent outbreaks of violence between transient “residents” who openly use the bushes as toilets and abuse passers-by.
The situation has become so bad City of Sydney has been forced to deploy a team of private security guards to the park for two months — a move that’s costing $185,000.
Guards are under strict orders to stop more tents being erected — but allow existing shelters to remain.
“NSW police have reported increased incidents of anti-social behaviour involving intoxicated minors, robberies and criminal activity in Belmore Park, that are putting people at risk,” a City of Sydney spokeswoman said.
“Security is present in the park to increase safety for all park users. They are also there to advise newly arriving rough sleepers that camping in the park is illegal and that new tents and other structures will not be permitted.
“No one will be asked to move on or be denied entry to the park at any stage. Staff from the Department of Family and Community Services, together with specialist homelessness services and city staff visit the park regularly to provide support to people to access housing.”
Police have also begun hourly patrols of the park to stop brawls and crack down on drug taking, which is said to be rife.
The City, which manages Belmore Park, has written to Premier Mike Baird asking for urgent action on homelessness in Sydney.
One homeless man said ice and heroin were available in Belmore Park.
“It’s all done in the tents and not out in the open but you’re never more than few metres from something dodgy,” he said.
A family visiting the park described how, on a previous visit, a mentally ill homeless man accosted their 13-year-old daughter.
“It took her by surprise because he just started shouting at her for no reason. I had to sit her down and explain that this man was unwell,” said father-of-four Andrew Emmitt.
Swedish holiday-maker Jessica Birks, 20, said security guards made her feel comfortable visiting the park.
“If (guards) are around me I feel safer. If I should scream someone will probably hear me,” she said.
“It shocks me seeing so many people living like this.”
Todd Pollock, 28, who has been homeless for a decade, said substance abuse in Belmore Park was fuelling more violence and crime.
“I saw one particularly massive fight between a group of dickheads … I don’t know what the hell they were on … probably ice,” he said.
“People use this place for shelter and pretty much to wait for housing. You can be on the housing list for 13 years — it’s difficult.”
A police source confirmed Belmore Park was a no-go zone at night, saying: “It’s really not recommended.”
City of Sydney councillor Edward Mandla criticised Lord Mayor Clover Moore for letting the situation deteriorate to the point where private security guards were required for the park at ratepayers’ expense.
“Distracted by endless scandals, the Lord Mayor of Sydney’s lack of will to tackle homelessness has turned one of our global city parks into a den of drugs, alcohol and aggression,” he said.
Councillor Christine Forster added: “I support any measures necessary to ensure the park is safe, and if that means security guards, so be it. But the City should be doing more to get the homeless people into accommodation.”
City staff confiscated tents and belongings from a similar homeless camp at Glebe’s Wentworth Park last year, but authorities have stopped short of similar action at Belmore Park.
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