Nambour homeless community still picking up pieces from ex-TC Alfred

A Sunshine Coast homeless community is still cleaning up after ex-TC Alfred, all while shops sit empty on their town’s main street.

Empty business shops around Nambour. Picture: Patrick Woods.

Nambour’s homeless community is being forced to set up camps along one of the town’s most flood-prone creeks despite several shops sitting empty in the town’s main street.

The community, who mainly sleep along Petrie Creek, say they “have no other choice” as they are moved on or chased out of any other location.

This publication spoke to homeless people camped along the banks of the creek about their recent experiences with the Ex-Cyclone Alfred floods.

After speaking with five different members of the homeless community, all of which asked not to be named, an idea of the challenges they faced emerged.

The population is transient with people arriving and leaving from across the wider region and beyond.

One man said he had just arrived from Rockhampton, with a healing broken arm.

Another man cleaning up rubbish around his tent said he was a long-time local, but had to constantly move around.

A woman using a small lookout deck with awning over the river said she was using it to keep out of the rain.

Homeless dwellings at Quota Park, Nambour. Picture: Patrick Woods.

A small encampment on the banks of Petrie Creek, hidden in the bushes, was home to a couple of men and a dog.

The men told this publication the floods had wiped them out completely.

“We’ve been doing our best to clean up the rubbish along the creek as best as we can, but it’s slow going.”

One of the men said they had no choice but to camp in the flood zone as it was the only place they were allowed to stay.

Trollies piled with mud damaged clothes and camping material were parked next to the park’s normal wheelie bins waiting to be collected.

The streets of Nambour itself was devoid of activity on a Tuesday afternoon, even after school finished for the day.

Mud damaged clothes around Nambour. Picture: Patrick Woods.

Shopfronts stood empty as people slept on the streets.

Asking the few locals passing by why the shops were empty, they only shrugged, mentioned the flood clean-up, and went on their way.

Empty business shops around Nambour. Picture: Patrick Woods.

Minister for Housing Sam O’Connor said the State Government was investing in homelessness support.

“It’s really tough for a lot of people right now, and to respond to the housing crisis we inherited we’re providing more funding for homelessness support than any Queensland Government has before to help with crisis accommodation,” he said.

Empty business shops around Nambour. Picture: Patrick Woods.

“We’ve got almost 5000 social and affordable homes under contract or under construction across Queensland as a start to deliver the long-term housing we need to see.”

He said since July 2023, 229 social homes had been delivered on the Sunshine Coast, including 13 social homes in Nambour.

“As of 30th April 2025, 221 social and affordable homes are currently in construction.”

Originally published as Nambour homeless community still picking up pieces from ex-TC Alfred