Camping ground for homeless
Call for action over park
A Gold Coast hinterland park is not being maintained and is becoming a haunt for the homeless, a council candidate says.
Sarah Denny, an independent candidate campaigning on environmental issues in Division 9, has released photographs showing Neranwood Park at Austinville being used as a campsite.
Ms Denny has taken aim at area councillor Glenn Tozer about the park condition off the Gold Coast-Springbrook Rd between Neranwood and Springbrook.
The photographs will spark community debate about homeless camping in isolated parks. Most people seeking shelter have been based in Southport or Burleigh and Coolangatta.
Mr Tozer has responded by encouraging Ms Denny and other residents to report damage and call his office to mobilise park staffers to repair defects.
Ms Denny said the park was “in complete disrepair with people sleeping rough living in a tent, in the park or on the table in the rain, having fires to stay warm”.
“If this was in any other division it wouldn’t be happening,” she said.
Ms Denny said operators of Polly’s Country Kitchen, next to the park, admitted homeless people had become a recent concern for locals.
Because they had nowhere else to go, the cafe owner had helped many of them “get back on their feet”, she said.
“It’s unsafe and disheartening this park cannot be enjoyed like the happy photos on the City of Gold Coast website,” Ms Denny said.
“The photos do not look like reality. Keep in mind this is at the base of the World Heritage Listed Area of Springbrook.”
Council’s advertising talked up the area’s “outstanding universal value” to the world.
“This park is only 10 minutes from Cr Tozer’s office. He’s been in his position for 12 years, I think we can do better,” Ms Denny said.
Mr Tozer welcomed community-minded businesses such as Polly’s Country Kitchen for helping out people in need. The City was working to help provide more areas such as caravan park sites and park staff made weekly checks on hundreds of recreational spots in the division, he said.
“The City’s Homelessness Action Plan acknowledges the complex and challenging issues we face across our city as the state’s social housing supply is simply too scarcely available,” Mr Tozer said.
“This is not a problem exclusive to the hinterland. However, our team is indeed aware of issues in and near these hinterland areas. As far as I can see, the state is working hard to improve supply of social housing in Queensland.
“Council has recently provided an additional 28 camping permits to the nearby Mudgeeraba Caravan Park, which has undergone a significant amenity improvement over past years. The park’s new owners, Derek and Mark, have been working closely with my office to assist local people in need.
“There exists a close working relationship with the Department of Housing at that nearby establishment.
“In relation to park amenity issues, Division 9 has over 300 park areas that our 43,000-plus residents enjoy and we always encourage people to use the City of Gold Coast app to report damaged equipment or park issues.”