Sunshine Coast Council says it is working to address illegal camping and homelessness, amid complaints that up to a dozen people have been staying long-term at a riverside park.
Concerned resident Andrew Watson told Sunshine Coast News he has noticed a significant increase in the number of people who sleep overnight at Muller Park in Bli Bli.
He said most were in large panel vans, with others in tents and cars, and some in large motorhomes and caravans.
“The nearest two caravan parks have plenty of vacancies, but these campers stay here for free,” he said.
“It happens all the time and is ignored by council.”
But a council spokesperson said council officers patrolled parks, fined illegal campers and worked with state services to find solutions for homeless people.
They said the council addressed illegal camping on a complaints basis and that it did not consider people experiencing homelessness to be camping.
“In cases where people are camping illegally, council generally educates in the first instance and issues infringements (including $309 fines) where unlawful camping continues,” they said.
“Council officers regularly attend various locations across the Sunshine Coast in response to complaints of illegal camping and concerns for people experiencing homelessness.”
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One woman at the park, Tania, told SCN she had been there for about two months. She was sleeping in her vehicle with her small dog. She said council was aware of her circumstances and she could not afford to get her car fixed to move on.
Her friend, Lee, who also did not want her full name published, said people camped out was a “sign of the times”.
“You’ve only got to go up and down the Coast, there’s homeless everywhere,” she said.
“What would be nice is if the Sunshine Coast Council would consider allowing people to stay.
“It seems like the Sunshine Coast is the only place that doesn’t make provision for people to lay over or have a rest stop.”
A man at the park, Pete, said he had been travelling around Australia for most of the past five years, towing a caravan.
He said he parked at Muller Park during the day but elsewhere at night, usually by the road and in car parks, after he was told overnight stays were not allowed in the park.
“I’ve been right around (the country) and it’s the first time anyone’s ever said anything to me.
“And at Bowen – they left a piece of paper on my windscreen there.”
Thirteen complaints related to illegal camping in Muller Park were made to the council in the past six months.
The council spokesperson said officers were taking several actions across the region, including at Muller Park.
“We provide information and directions to persons who are camping illegally,” they said.
“Where the issue relates to anti-social or unlawful behaviour, such as drug use or theft, we refer the matter to the Queensland Police Service.
“Council works closely with state services to link people to options for housing and support and assist to escalate support for people at high risk (such as children and people leaving domestic violence situations).”
Mr Watson said some of the people who stayed overnight were “culprits for noise and trash”.
He believed most of them were illegal campers.
“Many of them are in vehicles and/or rigs that are worth many thousands of dollars,” he said.
“I don’t agree with them turning up to the park in expensive caravans and motor homes, freeloading, when they should be at one of the caravan parks.”
Mr Watson said up to 18 people camped there one recent weekend.
He also said some of the people who stayed there could be homeless, but they should be accommodated elsewhere.
“I don’t agree that any camping whatsoever should be allowed at Muller Park, not even the homeless, who claim they have nowhere else to go,” he said.
“Council owns several appropriate facilities that I am sure could be used to accommodate the homeless.
“Muller Park is a family park designed for picnics by the river and barbecues in the areas provided. It was not designed to cater for caravans and motor homes or campers.”
Mr Watson said he had seen council offers at the park but had not seen them visit the people staying at the park.
He urged council to address the situation.
“If council genuinely wants to regulate the illegal camping at Muller Park, then they need get serious by policing their own laws and park signage and do it regularly,” he said.
There have also been concerns about people staying overnight at other parks and car parks around the Sunshine Coast, including at Cotton Tree and Point Cartwright. The issue was raised in earnest two years ago, when multiple vehicles were spotted along the foreshore.
Sunshine Coast Council issued three infringements for illegal camping during the past year, with none at Muller Park. Meanwhile, Noosa Council embarked on clampdowns in the tourist hub, which included 40 fines issued at Easter long weekend.
With much of Australia in the midst of a housing crisis, due to soaring property prices and rents, the council spokesperson said homelessness needed to be addressed by multiple parties.
“Homelessness is a situation that is difficult to quickly rectify, and all tiers of government, as well as the private sector, and the community housing sector need to work together to effectively address the current situation,” they said.
“The state and federal government are responsible for delivering community and social housing, which includes emergency accommodation.”
The council spokesperson said council had a commitment to facilitating affordable and diverse housing options and was providing community organisations that deliver affordable housing on the Sunshine Coast a 100 per cent rebate on standard council infrastructure charges, until 2028.
“We continue to advocate to other levels of government for action to address housing availability, reduce homelessness and deliver more affordable housing choices,” they said.
If you are experiencing homelessness or domestic and family violence you can call: Housing Service Centre phone (07) 5352 7333 Homeless Hotline phone 1800 474 753 DVConnect phone 1800 811 811.
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