Residents raise concerns over homeless woman near Bundaberg Hospital

Misinformation on social media surrounding a homeless woman and her muzzled dachshund have helped ignite community concerns over safety and hygiene near the Bundaberg Hospital.

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

A homeless woman residing in an undercover area near Bundaberg Base Hospital has become the subject of public concern, with reports of erratic behavior and an aggressive dachshund, which is now muzzled.
Apparent misinformation about the woman posted to social media has not helped.

Discussion about the state of the area gained traction after a Facebook post from the Burnett River Clean page on Wednesday, January 15, later removed from the group but still visible on the original poster’s profile.
The post claimed a page follower had spoken to Bundaberg Labor MP Tom Smith about the situation, alleging, “Council have leased this area to this person. He said there are rules, and if she breaks them, she may be removed, but the only way they will know is if people complain to Council.”

The poster added that this claim seemed unfair compared to the treatment of other homeless individuals and suggested concerned residents contact Mr Smith for clarification.

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

Another post from the same profile described a nurse forced to eat lunch in a less-than-hygienic area.

“It looks terrible and it’s unhygienic,” they said.
“Nurses, tourists, and hospital visitors should have a proper space to relax, but they don’t because one person has taken over the whole outdoor area.”

Later, the poster said Mr Smith denied making the initial comments, and Bundaberg Mayor Helen Blackburn also refuted the claims. Despite this, the poster maintained their stance, writing, “Either way, it’s all way out of control. This woman is homeless, but so
were others who had to move on”.

Ms Blackburn addressed the controversy in a public social media post on Friday, calling the claims untrue.
“This week a blatant lie was spread on Facebook falsely claiming council was leasing public shade structures and parks to homeless locals as semi-permanent accommodation,” Ms Blackburn said.
“The negativity these fake stories generate takes away from the positives we’re working on.”

She said homelessness was primarily a state government responsibility but highlighted her council’s efforts to address housing shortages, including incentivising housing supply, exploring surplus land donations, and supporting the Bundaberg Local Housing Action Plan.

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

Bundaberg Regional Council acting CEO Michael Ellery also confirmed there was no so-called lease.
“Council is aware that homelessness continues to be a significant issue in our region, and we are actively working with relevant agencies to resolve this situation and others like it while respecting the challenges faced by many residents,” she said.

Mr Smith said he had spoken to the woman who contacted him and explained the information she shared with the Burnett River Clean representative was not accurate.

On Friday morning, council workers were seen cleaning the affected area near the hospital, tidying up the space while leaving the woman’s belongings untouched.

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

The issue continues to spark debate in the community, with many calling for solutions that balance compassion for homeless individuals with the needs of residents, hospital visitors, and workers.

Almost 100 social and affordable home are expected to be completed in Bundaberg in 2025.

Full story here.

Originally published as Residents raise concerns over homeless woman near Bundaberg Hospital