Health and safety clean-up to close park

A park at Woody Point, which has become an encampment for homeless people, will soon be closed for up to six months for remediation due to serious public health and safety concerns.

The Gayundah Arboretum Park, which is public land managed by Moreton Bay City Council, will close from Monday, February 17.

Remediation work will include “removal of some ground surface area and associated waste items; ground maintenance and sanitation; and restoration of remnant vegetation”. It is expected to cost more than $110,000.

The State Government’s Department of Housing, Queensland Police Service and Moreton Bay City Council will this morning “engage with people experiencing homeless on the site to inform them of the necessary site closure”.

Council says it has “engaged extensively with the Department of Housing, who will connect these people with alternative accommodation options and appropriate supports”.

Acting Mayor Jodie Shipway says the urgent response is due to “serious public health and safety concerns”, with a recent report showing there is “human waste, used toilet paper, used syringes and associated waste, drug paraphernalia, significant general and food waste, and active vermin and mosquito breeding” at the site.

“I was appalled and saddened by the recent review of the site that showed an escalated public health risk under the Public Health Act 2005,” Cr Shipways says.

“It’s just not safe for people to be residing in these conditions, nor for the community to continue to use this public space.
“I genuinely hope that people do not exploit our legal obligation to clean up this site, by bringing into this conversation, the very complex issue of homelessness. This is a serious public health matter, and we are obliged to respond.

“No person should have to live in an unsafe environment and Council has a legal responsibility to act on these findings so that health and safety risks are removed.

“Unfortunately, this means the Gayundah Arboretum site will need to be closed to all people for an extended period of time to remediate the site.

“It is shocking to think that people are living amongst this waste, and I am sure the State Government will take their housing and support responsibilities seriously to help them.

“Many in the community will ask where these people will move to. I know the (State) Member for Redcliffe Kerri-Anne Dooley MP has said publicly that all of these people have already been offered housing, and I have been assured they will again be given housing options and support today.”

Call for more housing

Cr Shipway says Mayor Peter Flannery has met with the former, and current Housing Ministers, to express council’s concern about the severe lack of local crisis accommodation in the City of Moreton Bay.

“As a Council, we will continue to push this matter until it is resolved by the State,” she says.

“Although the area is unsafe, we have worked on a cross-government solution to give people at the site seven days, including a weekend, to leave before it must be fenced off, due to the health and safety risks. We believe this is a fair, compassionate and safe way to manage the situation.”

Cr Karl Winchester (Div 6) says there had been a noticeable increase in the number, and seriousness, of complaints to Council about the Gayundah Arboretum site.

“I want to thank the community for expressing their significant concerns to Council. I know it has been a worry for many local residents for some time,” Cr Winchester says.

“We’ve heard loud and clear that people want action, and know we have the overwhelming support from community to remediate the site.

“Council commits to keeping people informed during the remediation process.

“This will need to be a collaborative approach across all levels of government as Council does not have the power to move people on, nor the responsibility for crisis accommodation, social housing options and other homelessness support services.”

Community calls for action

State Member for Redcliffe Kerri-Anne Dooley says: “I have heard loud and clear, since being elected, that homelessness is one of the Redcliffe community’s biggest issues and I am working closely with all key stakeholders to address this situation.

“This current situation however is related to matters of public health and safety, and I wholeheartedly support City of Moreton Bay’s decision to close the Gayundah Arboretum site for public health and safety reasons.

“Only this week I visited the Gayundah Arboretum, and as a nurse, am concerned about the serious health risks I saw first-hand, alongside other illegal activities at the site.”

Federal Member for Petrie Luke Howarth says he supports the park’s closure.

“I am 100 per cent behind what Council is doing, however they must have the full backing of the State Government when it comes to housing and Queensland Police Service support,” he says.

“I too have heard from hundreds of concerned community members about this site and more broadly the growing issue of homelessness on the Peninsula.

“Action must be taken now due to the public health and safety risks, and I will continue to advocate for both people experiencing homelessness and local residents for the right to have a safe home and community environment.”

The Gayundah Arboretum site will be fenced off on February 17 “due to an escalated public health risk to the community, and the requirement for Council staff and contractors to safely access the site”.

Photos: Provided by Moreton Bay City Council