‘Who wants to live in a tent’: Homeless call on council to compromise after Wilks Park eviction notice

Rough sleepers in Wagga’s Wilks Park have until the end of the month to move on, after council issued them with an eviction notice. For most, there’s simply nowhere to go. Read their stories.

Jason Bonwick, 21, and his girlfriend have called Wagga’s Wilks Park home for the past three months.

They’re among around 30 people seeking shelter in tents at the park after finding themselves down on their luck and, for many, facing homelessness for the first time.

But now they’ve been slapped with eviction notices, handed out by Wagga Council representatives who visited the park last week with a police escort.

They’ve been given less than a month to vacate the park, and are required to move on by July 28.

Mr Bonwick told The Wagga News the eviction notice - which dictated that there was a three day limit for visitors and they must only camp with a vehicle - would see him left with nowhere to go.

“It is really cold and who wants to live in a tent - you are only meant to live in a tent when you are overseas or going camping,” Mr Bonwick said. “But it’s our only option at the moment.”

Jason Bonwick, 21, is living in a tent with his partner in Wilks Park. Picture: Patrick Morrow

Mr Bonwick he and his partner would be in even more trouble, if it weren’t for the help of community members who’d given them food and supplies.

“We get people coming down, being nice and dropping stuff off, which is really great as we need all the support we can get,” he said.

Mr Bondwick said he’s been forced to live rough after losing his job, and due to family troubles.

“I was at (one company) cleaning the trucks and getting paid good money, and then at a fencing company, but lost both because of injury,” he said.

“The money I did have went to living expenses and then being forced out of my partner’s parent’s home meant the money I had went.”

Mr Bonwick’s hopeful of finding work soon, but for now is unsure of where he will go in the future.

However Wagga City Council general manager Peter Thompson told media on Tuesday that it was the state government’s responsibility, not council’s, to help ease homelessness in Wagga and statewide.

He said the Department of Communities and Justice (DCJ)had failed to attend a workshop the council held on the issue.

“(On Monday) night council got together and had a workshop in relation to Wilks Park, to make this clear we are the land manager not the frontline agents of the people who live there,” he said.

“Local government has done their bit and the state government has disappeared from the negotiation table in wanting to find a solution for the care of these people.”

Another young couple, Aaron and Skye Bushman, have also found themselves in a dire situation which has left them camping in the park.

Originally from Melbourne, they couldn't afford the high rents, which ranged from $350 to $520 a week.

“We had to leave the place where we were staying in Melbourne because of the rent increase, then we went to Adelaide but it was too expensive then trying here it was also too expensive,” Mr Bushman said.

The couple suffers from mental health issues, and Mr Bushman has epilepsy and cannot work due to the condition.

“Myself I suffer from epilepsy while she (Mrs Bushman) suffers from autism and ADHD, which means we cannot work and we are on the disability pension,” he said.

Aaron and Skye Bushman moved from Melbourne to find a place with cheaper rent, but ended up sleeping rough. Picture: Patrick Morrow

Both are scared about what the future has in store for them after the eviction notice with Mrs Bushman claiming: “We just don’t know where to go, we could camp on the showgrounds?

“For us we can move around, for others they won’t know where to go if they are new to the situation of living rough.”

She said council needed to see the situation through their eyes before handing out the eviction notices.

Another rough sleeper Matt Costello, who’s spent 10 months camping at Wilks Park, said compromise was needed.

“I think we really need a compromise as many people will not know where to turn to, many will sleep in the main streets if they leave,” he said.

Mr Costello, who came to Wagga to find work, said the increased cost of living has made it impossible for anyone on a low income to find accommodation.

“I am not on Centrelink at the moment but am currently applying for it because I have no real job that has a solid income,” he said.

Matt Costello has been sleeping rough for 10 months at the park. Picture: Patrick Morrow

Jasmine Woodland, senior co-ordinator of family services for Riverina & Western NSW Anglicare, said the organisation supports those in need at Wilks Park.

“My staff and I went and did drop-offs and saw the need for help,” she said. “That triggered us to pay for tents and gas stoves for people to cook themselves a meal, which was super important in helping those sleeping rough at the park.

“Our help won’t stop at all but the reality is we only have so much manpower so we need the community to band together and help because we cannot do it alone.

“We are really proud of our community members who are helping out by supplying goods, with one business providing three big washing baskets of toiletry items.”

She said more housing was needed to meet the demand, with council’s eviction notice just “going to move the problem, not fix the problem”.

“We need the community to lobby hard to local government and council so we can have support for those who are sleeping rough,” she said.

Jasmine Woodland, senior co-ordinator for family services for Riverina & Western NSW Anglicare, said they would be lobbying government and council to provide better services. Picture: Patrick Morrow

Around 30 people are camping at the park. Picture: Patrick Morrow

A Department of Communities and Justice spokeswoman said in a statement: “Wagga Wagga City Council is responsible for the land management of Wilks Park.

“The DCJ was not provided with prior notice of Wagga Wagga Council’s Notice to Vacate in respect to the rough sleepers in Wilks Park.

“DCJ understands that the council will no longer be taking action to move people on from sleeping in Wilks Park.

“DCJ provides outreach services in Wagga, including Wilks Park, as part of its regular outreach schedule to support people into stable accommodation prior to the council intervention.

“Anyone displaced due to the council’s actions will continue to have access to this support.

Wagga City Council blame the state government for inaction in not helping those at Wilks Park. Picture: Patrick Morrow

“DCJ and St Vincent de Paul staff have on multiple occasions engaged with rough sleepers in Wilks Park, offering temporary accommodation. All offers have been declined.

“The NSW Government is committed to reducing rough sleeping across the state and has increased mobile outreach services to ensure people experiencing homelessness get the support they need to live in safe and stable accommodation, as well as wraparound support services tailored to individual needs.”