Council to ban homeless from camping on public land

People experiencing homelessness will be banned from camping on public land in Moreton Bay, just four months after the council issued guidelines allowing the practice.

Tents at Woody Point. Picture: Richard Walker

People experiencing homelessness will be banned from camping on public land in Moreton Bay from March 12, just four months after the council issued guidelines allowing indefinite camping on council land.

City of Moreton Bay announced on Wednesday that the Persons Experiencing Homelessness Camping Framework (PEHC), a set of guidelines issued on November 8 aimed at supporting people without housing, would be repealed.

Under the PEHC, people experiencing homelessness could camp indefinitely on council land, however authorised persons were able to assess people camping on council land, and provide information on housing assistance options if required.

From February 27, council officers will be engaging with people experiencing homelessness about the changes, with illegal campers receiving a compliance notice to move from March 12.

At least 137 people experiencing homelessness in the region will be impacted by the ban.

City of Moreton Bay CEO Scott Waters said the guidelines inhibited council’s ability to regulate local laws.

“(The guidelines have) contributed towards significant concerns about the decline of public space access, amenity and safety,” he said.

“These concerns include: the decreasing ability to access some public spaces due to the presence and behaviours of some illegal campers and people experiencing homelessness campers; increasing illegal behaviours in public spaces, such as illicit drug use, excessive consumption of alcohol and use of dangerous weapons, and increasing aggression towards public space users and council staff.

“Increased public safety concerns, including unrestrained animals being kept in public spaces; impacts to permitted businesses operating on council land; impacts to community events conducted on council land; deterioration of amenity in public spaces as a result of littering, accumulation of goods, large camping vehicles and overembellished campsites; and increased public health concerns in public spaces resulting from public toileting, vermin, used syringes and drug paraphernalia.”

He said some people experiencing homelessness are reportedly choosing to camp in public spaces over the acceptance of crisis accommodation.

“This was never the intent of the Framework. council’s policies and practices regularly evolve, and this update will support council in striking a reasonable balance between providing support to vulnerable members of our community and achieving the objectives of our local law,” he said.

“Over the next two weeks, council officers will inform campers across City of Moreton Bay of these changes and continue to refer people to the State Government for assistance.”

This comes after a unanimous council vote passed on December 12, amending the local laws to prohibit the keeping of animals by all persons camping in Moreton Bay public spaces and prohibit caravan users from camping in public spaces.

The decision was met with widespread backlash, with the move attracting 13,000 signatures petitioning the council to reverse the decision.

Mr Waters confirmed council will continue to engage with the Queensland Department of Housing to connect individuals with alternative accommodation options.

“Council welcomes the establishment of the City of Moreton Bay Homelessness, Safety and Public Amenity Inter-agency Executive that has been developed between City of Moreton Bay and the State Government’s Department of Housing, Queensland Police Service, Queensland Health, and Transport and Main Roads to support people experiencing homelessness in City of Moreton Bay,” he said.

“City of Moreton Bay is aware of how complex an issue homelessness is, and we acknowledge that this change will not be welcomed by everyone.

“The health and safety of people experiencing homelessness is core to this change and repealing the framework will enable these individuals to get the critical support they need.”

Originally published as Council to ban homeless from camping on public land