Southport CBD homeless given final warning to leave or belongings taken

Council have issued homeless people in the Southport tent city a ‘final warning’ - giving them just 24 hours to pack up and move on or face the consequences. Full details.

Homeless people in the Southport tent city are poised to move on, after the City officers arrived with police to deliver more threats of fines and taking their personal items.

Council staffers on Wednesday visited the camp with more official notices advising rough sleepers they had “24 hours from 11.30am” to comply or they would lose their belongings.

The threat is regarded as a final one – and many campers are prepared to leave.

Community advocate Ember Lenarduzzi, who has been supporting the group, told the Bulletin: “We are going to help them on the day. It’s looking like the camp won’t fight the eviction but we will still be there to help them pack up.

“When council came, they came with QPS (police) support, and verbally told the unhoused community that they will come tomorrow and take everything down.”

The homeless camp at Carey Park. Picture: Glenn Hampson.

The homeless are yet to decide on a new location. Camp leader Matangirau ‘Uncz’ Hira has been away from the site.

Some are considering a move to Labrador. Between 20 to 30 people have been camping in Carey Park for weeks.

It is understood City officers have given them an “advisory notice”, not issued any fines notice but indicated they will return on Thursday.

A City spokesperson said: “Officers attended Carey Park today and issued advisory notices on tents where there were no owners on site. The notice included information about powers under the Local Law whereby Council may seize, confiscate, impound or remove abandoned items. Officers will return to the site tomorrow. No enforcement notices were issued.”

The campers had previously been given a deadline of 5pm last Tuesday to pack up or face court action and fines of up to $8000, in an unprecedented crackdown.

Councillors had backed a recommendation from officers that the City moved from a welfare approach to a “compliance model” with regard to handling rough sleepers.

Gold Coast City Council officers can issue an on-the-spot fine of $806 to the rough sleepers in Carey Park or seek a court-imposed penalty of $8060.

The homeless in the tent city at Southport's Carey Park. Picture Glenn Hampson

The city has also made it clear it has the further option of charging the homeless for the cost of getting council staffers to clear away the tents.

If they issue a “performance of work” notice, council can recover the amount it costs in taking action “as a debt from the responsible person”.

A report to council’s planning committee estimates more than 400 people are homeless in the city in what is a growing accommodation crisis.

For the campers in the CBD park opposite the Southport Bowls Club, Wednesday was their third official warning that they are breaking at least two local laws – as council runs out its compliance options.

They have been told to stop storing and leaving their “tents, furniture, bags and bedding”.

Homeless leaders estimate there are 70 people camping around Southport.

A City spokesperson said: “Officers attended Carey Park today (Wednesday) and issued advisory notices on tents where there were no owners on site. The notice included information about powers under the Local Law whereby Council may seize, confiscate, impound or remove abandoned items.

“Officers will return to the site tomorrow. No enforcement notices were issued.”

Follow @PaulWestonGC 

 

Originally published as Southport CBD homeless given final warning to leave or belongings taken