New Melbourne homeless camp after Flinders Street furore

UPDATE: POLICE and council workers have carried out a “clean up” of a homeless camp after the seizure of more than 60 syringes and other drug paraphernalia.

Glen under the railway bridge with his dog Tonka. Picture: Hamish Blair

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UPDATE: MORE than a dozen police officers and members of City of Melbourne Council have carried out a “routine clean-up” at a homeless camp underneath the Flinders Street Bridge.

Police and council workers directed a group of homeless sleepers to remove various belongings from their makeshift camp including rubbish and bedding.

The items were then thrown by the group into the back of a council truck shortly after 1pm today.

A spokesman for City of Melbourne confirmed the procedure was jointly conducted by Victoria Police and council officers as part of a “routine clean-up of the city.”

The camp, set up on the corner of Flinders and Market Streets, has already attracted police attention after the seizure of more than 60 syringes and other drug paraphernalia.

A group of about 10 homeless sleepers evicted from outside Flinders St station, including Glen and his dog, Tonka, have set up home on the corner of Flinders and Market streets underneath the Flinders St bridge.

The untidy camp near Enterprize Park includes a large collection of bedding, bicycles and personal belongings strewn across the pavement.

The City of Melbourne says it is aware of the new camp, with council officers and police paying it a visit earlier this week.

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Glen said the new camp was already attracting unwanted attention.

“We had about 30 jacks (police) and the council down here yesterday getting heavy and threatening to take away our stuff,” Glen said.

Glen is one of about 10 homeless sleepers in the new camp. Picture: Hamish Blair

Police and council workers have already visited the camp. Picture: Hamish Blair

“I don’t think we will stay here very long because it’s too noisy with the trains overhead.

“We’ve all been here since we were turfed out from Flinders St station but it’s a s. t spot, I think we’re all going deaf.

Picture essay: A day at the Flinders St homeless camp

“I don’t know how these new bylaws will work, I’m not even sure it’s a proper law.”

Glen said the only housing offers homeless people had received were in motels, and that was only for a few months.

City of Melbourne spokeswoman Jem Wilson said the council was receiving an increasing number of complaints about the growing number of people sleeping rough in the city, particularly the amount of belongings left on footpaths.

The homeless camp under the bridge on the corner of William and Flinders streets. Picture: Hamish Blair

“On Tuesday, council officers and Victoria Police conducted regular clean-up operations in Enterprize Park, Customs Square and Queensbridge Square,” Ms Wilson said.

“Homelessness services attended the sites to provide offers of short-term housing.

“We removed 380kg of general waste and 110kg of furniture and oversized items such as bedside tables.

“We also removed seven used and uncapped syringes and 56 unused syringes plus other drug paraphernalia.

“We have also conducted clean-ups at Queensbridge St in the last two weeks, primarily to remove tents that were being erected”.

Violence gripped the centre of Melbourne last month as police clashed with protesters over the forced removal of a homeless camp outside Flinders St station.

Police arrested five people and three officers were injured as the deadline arrived.

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