Lee: I’m going for pollies

of up to 1000 homeless people in northern NSW.

The waiting list for public housing on the Tweed has ballooned to 17 years, but Mr Lee said it was more like 20.

He is even planning a trip to Gosford to research a proposal to build an estate of temporary housing for at-risk locals.

“It is getting worse because they refuse to do anything,” he said of politicians. “On Easter weekend people were sleeping in their own tents at Chinderah.

“I’m going to go for these guys (the leaders) now. I have people who will help.

Mr Lee said there was a parcel of land near the Salt development at Kingscliff the Government could allocate for temporary accommodation – and he had backers willing to help finance an initiative.

Tweed MP Geoff Provest said his hands were tied by outdated and nonsensical state legislation.

If he tried to build temporary housing in a residential area, Mr Provest said locals would look to block any council development application.

He said it would be easier to set up a 24-hour brothel in an industrial area than a crisis accommodation service.

Mr Provest said he had discussed law changes with the NSW Planning Minister, but it was a slow process.

“It’s a product of our society. Eighty per cent of (people wanting housing) have some sort of mental illness.

“There are a number of people escaping domestic violence in one form or another.”

Even if there was ample temporary accommodation in the region, Mr Provest said many of the people requiring help were also in need of mental health and counselling services.

“It’s more than just putting a roof over somebody’s head or creating support. It’s an old system (that) has never had to deal with homeless people.”