Surfers Paradise party strip bosses call for help on homelessness

SURFERS Paradise business owners have called upon authorities to move on a homeless man who has been living rough at the party precinct’s main drag for months.

SURFERS Paradise business owners are urging immediate help to move on a homeless man, living rough on the party precinct’s main drag for months.

He sleeps beside a stack of boxes which appear to be his possessions at the edge of the Orchid Avenue footpath. The spot is in front of what used to be nightclub Alive.

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Surfers Paradise traders say this homeless man has been sleeping rough in central Surfers Paradise on party strip Orchid Avenue for months — and want urgent help to move him on.

The vacant site is next to the police station and in the midst of multiple bars and restaurants just down from the five-star Hilton Hotel.

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One owner of a nearby nightspot said he was practically living and sleeping on the Orchid Avenue footpath.

Traders say it’s a “terrible look” for the tourist hub.

“It’s a terrible look for Surfers and the Gold Coast.”

Another operator said: “Businesses have spoken to police. He makes a mess and is going around picking up old cigarette butts.”

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It is a difficult for authorities to get involved because he is on private property.

Member for Surfers Paradise, John-Paul Langbroek: “If this gentleman needs help, council should put him in touch with organisations who may be able to help.” Picture: Jerad Williams

LNP’s Member for Surfers Paradise John-Paul Langbroek said he sympathised with businesses and would not have been happy either if the man had started living next to a dental clinic he ran prior to becoming a politician: “I’m not saying we don’t have to have a social conscience but we didn’t tolerate it during the Commonwealth Games because of the bad image to the world.

“If this gentleman needs help, council should put him in touch with organisations who may be able to help.”

Surfers Paradise Alliance CEO Mike Winlaw: “We will play our part and try to facilitate some kind of action. It’s a sad reflection on where we are at looking after homeless people.” Photo: Steve Holland

A council spokesman said: “If, as reported, the person is occupying private land then the city has no authority to take action. Homelessness is primarily a Queensland Government issue however after hearing about this today we have made contact with various welfare agencies to ensure this individual has assistance if required.”

Surfers Paradise Alliance CEO Mike Winlaw has had staff make inquiries to support services and State Government the past two days.

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Mr Winlaw said his understanding was police needed to do a “welfare check” of the individual and State Government’s Department of Housing and Public Works could then get involved.

“We will play our part and try to facilitate some kind of action,” Mr Winlaw said.

“It’s a sad reflection on where we are at looking after homeless people. There needs to be some sort of direction to how we facilitate that person moving out of the precinct and looking at services. We have somebody who needs support.”

A Department of Housing spokesman said the Gold Coast Homelessness Hub, which assists people sleeping rough, would “reach out to this man and offer support”.

A private firm paid $8.8m for the Alive site in 2015.