Fences go up at popular park

The Woody Point park which became a camp for homeless people, has today been closed due to serious public health and safety concerns.

Moreton Bay City Council has shut Gayundah Arboretum Park for up to six months, with huge lines of fencing now around the area.

Work, costing more than $110,000, has begun to remove “human waste, used toilet paper, syringes, drug paraphernalia, general and food waste”.

The grounds and vegetation will also be restored. During this work the pathway along the foreshore will remain open for public use.

Acting Mayor Jodie Shipway said those camping at the park site have been offered accommodation by the State Government’s Department of Housing.

“I am pleased many campers at this public site have taken up the State’s offer of housing however we are also aware a number have chosen not to,” she said.

“Council does not have move on powers, but with the area now an active work site, people must leave.”

The move was welcomed by readers on the Moreton Daily’s Facebook page, though some said the homeless people were moving to different areas.

On Friday, Council investigated breaches of local laws at Suttons Beach, saying: “Eight persons were engaged with, four were issued compliance notices due to breaches of Council’s local laws.

“Some breaches were related to the persons camping within bookable events spaces utilised by local groups and businesses.

“These persons were requested to relocate to an alternate location. Other compliance notices related to camping with animals, which is prohibited under Council’s local laws.”

An independent report commissioned by Council said City of Moreton Bay has less social housing dwellings per 10,000 people than Ipswich, Logan and Redland.

City of Moreton Bay has had a 90 per cent increase in the number of people experiencing homelessness in the last decade according to 2021 Census data.

Over the last two years, referrals to Council of people sleeping rough have risen 250 per cent.

“It is the Queensland Government's responsibility to provide safe and appropriate housing as well as homelessness support services, for vulnerable members of our community,” Cr Shipway said.

“Not only is there a severe lack of sufficient crisis accommodation and long-term social housing in City of Moreton Bay, but there is also inadequate coordinated support for people to better manage their personal health and economic situations.

“City of Moreton Bay has thousands of people on the social housing list. Yet again, there is a lack of focus on our City and our rapid growth means the spotlight must be turned our way.

“City of Moreton Bay is already past the tipping point, so there needs to be action before this becomes a crisis that the State is unable to manage.”

Initiatives include Council waiving development fees and infrastructure charges in fifteen suburbs for affordable and social housing, offering Council land under a peppercorn lease to community housing providers Bric Housing and Coast2Bay Housing Group Ltd, committed $3.7 million to the new Peninsula Support Hub and supported the Redcliffe Sleepbus.