The Music Bowl identified as location for possible site for homeless people

A location which has meaning to many long-time Rockhampton region locals has been identified as the best place to host people who are homeless.

The Rockhampton Music Bowl has been identified as the preferred location for a Place of Last Resort for the homeless in Rockhampton.

The site of the run-down Music Bowl has been identified as the best location to create a designated area in Rockhampton for homeless people to stay.

Councillors were set to discuss the location of ‘the Place of Last Resort’ on Tuesday at the Communities Committee, but Cr Grant Mathers requested a delay as two councillors were not at the meeting.

In March this year Cr Grant Mather’s put forward a Notice of Motion to create a temporary ‘Place of Last Resort’ for people who are homeless to have somewhere safe to stay.

Rockhampton council plans to create a Place of Last Resort for those who are homeless in the area. Pictured: A homeless camp at Kershaw Gardens photographed on September 20 in 2024.

At the time, Cr Mathers said homelessness in Rockhampton had gotten worse over the years with those impacted spread throughout multiple areas including at the Riverbank and Kershaw Gardens.

However, Cr Mathers’ project has received pushback from some service providers.

Central Queensland Housing and Homelessness Alliance chair Fabian Webber said in March that he had repeatedly advised against the plans, saying Cr Mathers has “good intentions”.

Mr Webber said their greatest concerns centred around safety, security and dignity.

“Any policy that involves concentrating people into one area is a recipe for long-term pain and will not provide any solution to our homeless population or our community,” he wrote in a letter to each councillor.

Cr Grant Mathers put forward the proposal for a Place of Last Resort for those suffering homelessness.

Council resolved on March 25 to support the establishment of a temporary Place of Last Resort and documents reveal half-a-million dollars has been allocated for the site’s establishment, including capital works and operational costs.

It would include places to camp, amenities and it would also allow services to provide support to those who are homeless, including a minimum of toilets, showers, lighting of common area, waste collection and potable water.

At the other end, it could also include electricity/powered sites, CCTV, laundry facilities, a food preparation area, WiFi and locked storage.

Council’s responsibilities for the site will include ensuring services can access the site, ensuring safety of staff while on site, and

the provision of a suitable space with appropriate resourcing for traffic management, maintenance and repairs, waste management, provision of water and a place where phones can be charged and suitable amenities.

The now disused Parkhurst Music Bowl was key entertainment venue for residents and often played host to live concerts.

It is intended to be a temporary solution for those waiting to get into secure housing.

“It should operate alongside broader housing and homelessness strategies, not as a standalone or long-term solution,” council documents state.

Should councillors approve the plan, the project would go through various stages including a public consultation stage which will take at least six months.

Councillors Cherie Rutherford and Edward Oram were not at the meeting.

A motion to deal with the Place of Last Resort Project Plan at a later, but yet unspecified date, once all councillors were present was passed.

Rockhampton Music Bowl back in its glory days.

Originally published as The Music Bowl identified as location for possible site for homeless people