Homelessness: Call for urgent government help to remove camps around Gold Coast schools

The State Government is being called upon to alleviate the city’s growing homeless problem — but the Housing Minister says the Gold Coast’s network is a ‘model for the rest of the state.’

THE State Housing Minister is being called to intervene to stop homeless people from dumping faeces in the bins of Southport residents as they camp out on school grounds.

However, Mick de Brenni last night left the crisis to be managed by existing services and is yet to respond to a request for an emergency meetings of welfare stakeholders.

A special report in the Bulletin yesterday exposed the homeless crisis, showing photographs of the permanent camp sites in bushland around campuses where students go for walks.

Disturbing images also show an abandoned mattress in the Broadwater Parklands, and up to 20 cans tossed by a tree after children were chroming.

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A mattress in the Broadwater Parklands on the Gold Coast where homeless teenagers are sleeping.

Residents have written to Bonney MP Sam O’Connor and Southport councillor Dawn Crichlow calling for urgency from authorities to address a “community problem”.

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Mr O’Connor yesterday sent a letter to Mr de Brenni with the emails from furious residents detailing how campers — their site includes multiple shelters, bikes, tables, bamboo fencing, pot plants and outdoor showers — continue to return to the school grounds.

“This is not good enough,” Mr O’Connor said.

The department was to conduct a discussion on homelessness with stakeholders on Thursday but it has been called off.

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Homeless teenagers dump aerosol cans by a tree in the Broadwater Parklands at Southport, on the Gold Coast.

“Would you be willing to join me, other MPs on the Coast, the City of Gold Coast and key stakeholders such as the Queensland Police Service and service providers in a forum on the issue,” Mr O’Connor wrote.

“The Gold Coast needs more support to ensure people are cared for and kept safe.”

Mr de Brenni has yet to respond to Mr O’Connor’s request but he told the Bulletin of his confidence in the Gold Coast Housing and Homeless Network and the partnerships with police and housing agencies to resolve the crisis.

“In fact it is a model for other networks in the state,” he said.

HOMELESS MAN DENIED ACCESS TO TOILET

The Southport base for a homeless family on the Gold Coast.

“When elevated presentations of people experiencing homelessness are brought to a network’s attention, we will always ensure that networks are mobilised and supported to address the issues. There is no benefit from distracting this work led by dedicated professionals.”

A resident in the most recent letter to Mr O’Connor and Cr Crichlow wrote: “I certainly do not appreciate the dumping of faeces in my weekly council bin but then again, where else would these people dispose of the waste?,” the resident said.

Cr Crichlow responded that the camp site was on Department of Natural Resources and Mines land and policed by Queensland Police.

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A homeless person outside the Anglican Church at Southport. Picture: Glenn Hampson

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“Council has been doing as much as we can as a local authority,” she wrote. “However this is an urgent situation for the State Government as it involves policing, the need for more accommodation and mental health services,” she wrote.

Mayor Tom Tate yesterday said all three tiers of government should focus on helping the homeless who like others were escaping from down south to “paradise”.

Asked if the city had a homeless problem, he replied: “Well, we do. And really it’s everyone’s problem. From the council perspective, there is homeless connect and we do provide food and alike but it’s deeper than that.

“Affordable housing is really a state issue and we should accelerate whatever project we have in line, especially for young teenagers who are out homeless and we want to get them back into shelter and safety.

“Really, I’d say to everyone, with the help of Rosies — we can’t put it on them alone, the government’s got to kick in.”