Bundaberg council orders homeless woman to move after public complaints

A woman living in an undercover area near Bundaberg Base Hospital has been issued a formal notice to leave following public pressure, with council citing local laws prohibiting camping in public spaces.

A public space near Bundaberg Base Hospital that has sparked debate over safety and hygiene.

A woman who had been living in an undercover area near Bundaberg Base Hospital has been kicked out following public concern over the state of the space.

A previous article detailed reports of erratic behaviour and issues related to the woman’s aggressive dachshund, which has since been muzzled.
Misinformation circulating on social media contributed to the controversy.

A Facebook post from the Burnett River Clean page on January 15 brought further attention to the matter, with claims a page follower had spoken to Bundaberg Labor MP Tom Smith about the situation.
“Council have leased this area to this person,” the post alleged.

“He said there were rules, and if she broke them, she may be removed, but the only way they would know is if people complain to Council.”

A public space near Bundaberg Base Hospital that has sparked debate over safety and hygiene.

The post questioned the perceived unfairness compared to the treatment of other homeless individuals, and encouraged residents to contact Mr Smith for clarification.
Mr Smith later denied making the comments, and Bundaberg Mayor Helen Blackburn also refuted the claims.
Despite this, the original poster maintained their stance, saying: “Either way, it’s all way out of control. This woman is homeless, but so were others who had to move on.”
Council workers cleaned the area near the hospital, tidying the space while leaving the woman’s belongings untouched.
The issue remained a point of debate in the community, with calls for solutions that balance compassion for homeless individuals with the needs of residents, hospital visitors, and workers.

A follow-up post on the Burnett River Clean page said: “After 100s of concerned posts, community outrage and straight out fear, it appears someone has monitored this page and decided the community does come before one person.”
When the Bundaberg Regional Council was contacted about whether the woman had been asked to leave, General Manager of Regional Growth and Development Michael Ellery confirmed a formal notice to move on had been issued, but did not confirm whether they had given her suggestions of where she could move to.

A public space near Bundaberg Base Hospital that has been cleared after public uproar.

“Council has issued a formal notice to move on from this location and cleaned the area to ensure it remains available for public use,” he said.

“Under our local laws there is a prohibition on camping in public places, and this is what was occurring in this area to the exclusion of other users.

“Council is aware that homelessness is a significant issue in our region.
“While this is primarily a State Government responsibility, we are actively working with relevant agencies to resolve this situation and others like it while respecting the challenges being faced by many of our residents.”

Originally published as Bundaberg council orders homeless woman to move after public complaints