Gold Coast councillors face protest with council accused of being ‘inhumane’ with homeless

Council have been slammed for attempts to clear a CBD tent city where homeless people have been warned to move on or risk losing their belongings.

Council has been accused of putting “beautification and public image” and pursuing an “inhumane” policy for attempting to shift homeless people from a Southport tent city.

A number of rough sleepers among more than 20 tents at the CBD site were last week handed “compliance notices” by council, threatening them their belongings would be seized by 5pm on Monday if they did not move on. The Bulletin understands the people given the compliance notices decided to leave.

Community advocate Jenna Schroeder described council’s new policy as short sighted, putting “beautification and public image” above giving support to vulnerable people.

Jenna Schroeder.

Tamika Hicks.

“The council has acknowledged in its own reports that the demand for crisis accommodation far exceeds supply, and that people are cycling in and out of homelessness due to complex needs,” Ms Schroeder said.

“Yet instead of coming up with solutions to help people, they’re expanding compliance patrols.”

Community volunteer Tamika Hicks, who has been a regular visitor to the tent city, said council appeared intent on moving people out of public view.

The homeless in the tent city at Southport’s Carey Park. Picture: Glenn Hampson.

“Carey Park has been a refuge for many, and displacing people without secure, supported housing options is both inhumane and ineffective. We’ve worked for years to build a compassionate, coordinated response. This shift threatens to undo that progress,” she said.

A protest will be held at council chambers from 9am on Tuesday by campaigners angered at council’s actions.

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