Southport homeless crisis: Forty-two of the 1000 homeless on the Gold Coast are not moving from camp site

The Gold Coast’s most public homeless camp, facing the Broadwater Parklands, is the new home for rough sleepers some of whom have ten years surviving without shelter.

The Gold Coast’s most public homeless camp, facing the Broadwater Parklands, is the new home for rough sleepers some of whom have ten years surviving without shelter.

Welfare agencies, on the latest count, say there are 42 people who are camping in parks and shop laneways between the Sundale Bridge and Charis Seafoods at Biggera Waters.

The bigger picture sees more than 900 people homeless across the city.

Despite disturbing images in Southport, city leaders say the homeless crisis is worse on the Coast’s southern end.

All stakeholders agree it will be at least two years before low cost housing is built and provides decent accommodation for the Southport homeless.

A tent city has returned to Carey Park at Southport where the homeless have again begun camping out.

Carey Park is the perfect location, a bike ride or quick stroll from shops.

The Bulletin has spotted campers arriving back with food. They can cook their steaks on council barbecues.

This small group of men and a woman have moved from their most recent location in the Nerang Street mall.

Previously they were at the Cascade Gardens at Broadbeach.

Southport councillor Brooke Patterson late this week met with the homeless and spoke to an older man who recognised her after she helped fill out his welfare housing application.

“He has not heard anything (from the government) for the past two years,” Ms Patterson said.

Another man sleeping under a long grey tarp had been without a home for four years. His mate estimated it had been 10 years on the road.

Ms Patterson has met with the Council’s acting CEO and another senior executive to determine the next steps.

Residents on her Facebook page have called Southport “a toilet” and say they fear for their safety as vagrants drink and “shoot up” in CBD streets.

Homeless have returned to Carey Park at Southport to camp out.

A former police officer wrote: “I walk down Nerang Street most evenings and see offences being committed. I volunteer at Australia Fair and observe theft every single day by the same group of people that charity groups and others support.”

The councillor has been told Council officers are aware of the situation and “will continue to work closely with the Department of Housing, Queensland Police Service and other agencies to link them with specialist homelessness services where appropriate”.

Officers have indicated if there are complaints about alleged crimes including drug use and theft, it was a matter for police.

Both Ms Patterson and Southport MP Rob Molhoek believe the homeless crisis has become worse in the last 12 months on the southern Coast.

“It’s not just a Southport problem. If you go to Surfers Paradise, Coolangatta or Palm Beach we know there are rough sleepers. It requires a strong response from the State Government and agencies they fund to deal with these people and help them find a pathway into some care or accommodation,” Mr Molhoek said.

Flashback: a homeless camp in the Southport CBD. An elderly lady had been using shopping trolleys to protect her area.

An experienced MP with strong links to welfare groups, Mr Molhoek knows there is a core group of homeless who are “very difficult to house”.

Moving the campers from Carey Park will see them either relocate at the park near the Lawson Street community centre or parks neighbouring Southport schools.

Mr Molhoek believes the ultimate solution is Common Ground to be built on land near the tennis centre, with construction to start next year and to be completed by 2027.

He acknowledged the State was building 200 apartments at Queen Street Village.

“None of this will be fixed until we change the Government. We will have a greater focus on policing and police resources, greater focus on increasing housing supply. Sadly it’s a problem we have to live with at the moment. Awful as it is, at least there are some solutions on the horizon at Southport,” he said.

Housing Minister Meaghan Scanlon — “The LNP in government commenced zero housing projects”. Picture: Glenn Campbell.

The Government says it has announced several major social housing projects including 159 homes at Southport. People needing help could “reach out” to the Housing Department.

Gaven MP and Housing Minister Meaghan Scanlon welcomed Mr Molhoek backing the Government’s 200-home Southport supportive accommodation project but “disappointed” he was ignoring other projects across the Coast.

“The fact is, David Crisafulli appointed a housing spokesperson who commenced zero projects on the Gold Coast and now they’re blocking thousands of Queenslanders form buying a home,” Ms Scanlon said.

“Housing supply is important and that’s why it’s baffling that the LNP are opposing it.”

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