Moreland Council considering new laws to allow homeless to camp in public

HOMELESS people will be allowed to camp in public and residents able to rifle through people’s bins under a bizarre set of rule changes by a Melbourne council.

HOMELESS people would be able to camp in public under a bizarre set of rule changes by a Melbourne council.

Moreland city council has called for public feedback on draft alterations to its local laws, which could also open the way to residents rifling through people’s bins.

And the new rules relax restrictions on drinking in public, but will force community groups to get permits for stalls.

Under the controversial proposed law changes, areas would be prescribed for recreational camping, with wording designed to protect Moreland’s homeless population from being moved on or prosecuted.

And there are concerns a loophole in rules for kerbside collection will result in residents being able to legally go through their neighbours’ garbage on bin night.

The new laws are meant to allow residents to pick up hard waste items left for council collection but are worded so vaguely that they could allow people to take general rubbish from other properties’ bins.

“The change to the local law on the night of the council meeting would have that consequence,” mayor Helen Davidson said.

Moreland Mayor Helen Davidson. Picture: Hamish Blair

“However, the intention on the night of the meeting was to remove the prohibition to individuals collecting hard rubbish during the annual hard rubbish collection.

“The consultation process is still under way and the final draft of the local law has not been compiled as yet and these consequences will need to be carefully considered by councillors.”

Other changes include:

INTRODUCING permits for community stalls and other displays blocking pedestrians and traffic, and;

DESIGNATING areas banning public consumption of ­alcohol, but loosening restrictions on public drinking for the rest of the municipality.

Cr Davidson said the council wanted to keep moderate drinking in public but accepted there would be new challenges for law enforcement.

“If the current proposal became law we would have to work quickly with Victoria Police to prescribe areas where alcohol couldn’t be consumed and at what times of day.”

Moreland Socialist Alliance councillor Sue Bolton said many changes should be dumped.

“Some residents are saying the whole draft should be redrawn. I suspect Moreland is not very unique in that there’s some odd and undemocratic things in a lot of these laws,” she said.

Cr Bolton said local groups and free speech advocates did not want to apply for permits when setting up stalls.