Police investigate attack on van at Four Mile Beach
A violent outburst in a Far North car park over unauthorised camping has raised debate about options for homeless people forced into van life by the housing crisis.
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A violent outburst in a Port Douglas car park and tempers erupting over unauthorised camping has raised debate about options for homeless people forced into van life by the Queensland housing crisis.
On June 26, an attack on a white van parked at the Four Mile Beach park has left the mobile home of a homeless Port Douglas kitesurf instructor in need of repairs worth thousands of dollars.
The ugly confrontation caught on video shows a man approaching the van armed with a truncheon-style torch before smashing in the windows, while the owner’s girlfriend was inside.
“Run you dog c--ts,” the man can be heard yelling.
Witness to the incident and homeless woman Melinda Laidlaw said the backpackers had spent the day kite surfing and were getting ready for bed when the attacker cut loose.
“He threatened to kill Shane and (said) he is going to rip his f--king heart out and he threatened to smash the van and rape his girlfriend,” she said.
“This guy is free to come and smash people’s vans, he has no right, he should be accountable for the damage caused.
“I’m very upset for my friend who was inside the van, it’s just not on.”
The incident is now the subject of an investigation but no charges have been laid.
Ms Laidlaw has been forced into living in her van after struggling to afford huge rent hikes after her rental property at Holloways Beach was impacted by the Cyclone Jasper flood in 2023.
Rattled by the violence, the 50-year-old said she was now afraid for her safety when sleeping alone in a van while also raising concerns about the lack of free camping sites within the Douglas Shire.
There’s no free camping within the sprawling 2428sq/km footprint of the Douglas LGA, according to the Douglas Shire Council.
Local laws officers regularly patrol beaches, parks and council reserves throughout the Douglas Shire and unauthorised campers can cop on-the-spot fines.
“I’m not recreational camping and there have been two families with kids in the back of the car who can afford a van park asking where they can stay for the night, but there’s nowhere,” Ms Laidlaw said.
“My rental went from $400 per week to $700 and I have had trouble securing accommodation.
“It’s a real problem all around Australia.”
The former promotions manager said homeless campers have been encouraged to move out of the Port Douglas area to free camps out west within the Mareeba Shire.
“They are scaring away the backpackers to go inland,” she said.
Ms Laidlaw said the latest episode at Four Mile Beach was another incident in a lengthy list of intimidating situations as a vulnerable woman camping alone in her van.
“I was parked near Muddy’s and a guy came up and asked if he could sleep with me in my van, and I told him to bugger off,” she said.
Douglas Shire Mayor Lisa Scomazzon said there were a lot of factors that had to be looked at when managing homeless people living in vans.
“I don’t think it’s clear cut,” she said.
“No one wants to see homeless people. We all want to help and it’s a terrible thing anywhere, but is it a council problem?”
Speaking on the recent smashing up of the van, the Mayor was clear that residents should not take the law into their own hands.
“If people have concerns about camping they need to speak to the council,” she said.
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Originally published as Police investigate attack on van at Four Mile Beach
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