Dee Why lagoon ‘tent city’: Plans to dismantle camp on hold after occupants refuse housing

A plan to dismantle a northern beaches homeless camp has been put on ice after two occupants of the makeshift set-up refused offers of permanent housing.

A plan to dismantle a homeless camp on Sydney’s northern beaches has been put on ice after two occupants of the makeshift set-up refused offers of permanent housing.

Authorities are continuing efforts to encourage two residents of an encampment near Dee Why Lagoon into alternative accommodation in the wake of a string of alleged violent incidents at the site last year.

The campsite has become the focus of community concern amid reports of rubbish accumulating at the site, environmental damage and locals being verbally assaulted.

In August, the camp made headlines when a man in his 30s was allegedly stabbed and rushed to hospital in a serious condition.

Northern Beaches Council tried to dismantle the encampment in August last year as part of a multi agency operation involving support agencies Bridge Housing, Mission Australia, and NSW Police.

Tents have been established in the dunes of the camp.

However, it has now been confirmed that the plan to fully dismantle the camp remains on hold after two remaining occupants of the encampment declined offers of housing.

It is understood authorities are planning further outreach patrols in coming weeks to discuss housing options with the occupants, who both remain on the case lists of community housing providers.

NSW Housing Minister Rose Jackson said one of the residents was previously a resident with St George Community Housing but relinquished their tenancy.

Northern Beaches Council, assisted by police, tried to have the camp dismantled last year.

Due to the site’s history of alleged violence, risk mitigation strategies have been put in place for the safety of outreach employees when visiting the site.

Ms Jackson said the risk management strategies would allow “more frequent outreach” to be conducted in the area.

Northern Beaches Mayor Sue Heins said homelessness was a complex issue and the council was taking “a balanced and compassionate approach to work with relevant agencies to support the individuals affected.”

Environmental concerns have also been raised in relation to the camp.

“We understand that people sleeping rough in Dee Why have been offered housing and support – and we hope that these offers will eventually be accepted,” she said.

“In the meantime, we are continuing to monitor the situation and are striving to balance the rights of people sleeping rough with community safety and public amenity.”

Retired police officer and Northern Beaches councillor David Walton is pushing for the council to have the camp fully dismantled.

“The camp should be removed – that’s what the community has been calling for – and we need to have all the rubbish removed and the area rehabilitated,” he said.

“It is an illegal camp and we’re continuing to get reports of offensive language and threats towards people walking through the dunes.

The camp has been set up in the dunes near Dee Why Lagoon.

“It also sets a precedent for camps to be established in other sections of the lagoon area.

“Our priority is always to assist agencies in housing homeless people, however the council has powers to remove illegal structures and my position is the council should take those actions.”

Northern Beaches Council was unable to estimate the full cost of attending the area but said any staff “attending the area would already be rostered on for duty.”

The camp has been home to rough sleepers since 2020.

Figures by Mission Australia show homelessness has become a growing issue with the agency experiencing a 26 per cent increase in demand for its services over the past three years.