Dee Why Beach homeless settlement: Authorities move to block access to beach ’shanties’

Moves have been made to prevent homeless people moving back into a long-established shanty settlement behind a popular Sydney beach.

Authorities have moved to stop residents of a shanty settlement in an affluent Sydney suburb from moving back in after an alleged violent incident and deliberately lit fire.

Two homeless men were arrested on October 3 after a tent in a beachside reserve at Dee Why was allegedly set ablaze.

A police officer was allegedly kicked in the head.

And a man was allegedly seen chasing another man with a machete.

Two men were charged after a tent was allegedly set alight in the Dee Why sand dunes. Picture: Facebook

At least two makeshift dwellings had been in the dunes for several years, but after the arrests, Northern Beaches Council rangers and waste removal staff, escorted by police, pulled most of the two rubbish-strewn campsites down on October 4.

Locals say a section of one of the campsites still remains.

A campsite was allegedly deliberately set alight after a confrontation between two homeless men living in tents at a reserve behind Dee Why Beach. Picture; Rhydian Ward

On Tuesday the council confirmed that it moved to disband the makeshift camp after the incidents that led to police intervention

The council has just installed signs to keep people out of the area while dune restoration is in progress.

It will install upgraded and secure fences in coming weeks.

One of the campsites in the Dee Why sand dunes before the council moved to remove most of the material. Picture: Facebook

Council rangers had used their powers under the Local Government Act to remove the items at these sites that were considered a “public nuisance”.,

Some of the items are being stored at a secure location while the council’s community services staff have been talking with agencies to help the men find accommodation.

“Council will continue to take a balanced and compassionate approach to homelessness and work with relevant agencies to support any individuals affected,” said its CEO Ray Brownlee.

Last week he told media that the council had to disband the camp and remove the growing accumulation of rubbish and other materials that were posing a fire and safety risk.

Another dwelling in the Dee Why sand dunes before the arrests. Picture: Facebook

“We have been working with relevant homeless support agencies in a continual effort to provide assistance to those living in the dunes at Dee Why for a number of years now,” Mr Brownlee said.

Police said last week that they, and NSW Fire and Rescue, were called to a tent alight in the Dee Why sand dunes about 5pm on October 3.

“Police were also told a man, allegedly armed with a machete and a gas lighter, had been seen chasing another man towards the carpark about the same time,” a NSW Police spokesman said.

Northern Beaches Council has placed signs in a reserve behind Dee Why Beach to help prevent homeless men returning to set up camps after their makeshift dwellings were removed by the council on October 3. Picture: Jim O'Rourke

Officers were allegedly assaulted while trying to arrest a 35-year-old man at a nearby service station.

The man was capsicum sprayed after allegedly kicking a police officer in the head.

He was charged with damage property by fire, use offensive weapon with intent to commit indictable offence, assault police, and resist, hinder police.

A second man, 43, was charged with one count each of assault police and intimidate police.

On Tuesday a local woman who regularly walks her dog in the reserve told the Manly Daily that she first saw the tents about two months ago.

“But I’ve never seen any people and never had any trouble at all,” she said.