EFFIE BATEMAN | Lifestyle | Contact
Moreton Bay mayor Peter Flannery has today warned BCF Lawnton that there will be severe repercussions if staff are seen selling tents to anyone who looks ‘unhoused’, as part of his three step plan to stop homeless people from living in Eddie Hyland park.
The park, which is located directly across from BCF, has been home to a tent city filled with people left homeless after struggling to find affordable and available accommodation.
Brisbane’s housing market skyrocketed over the last few years with 67.7% price growth since the onset of COVID-19. That, and the University of Sunshine Coast that opened up in Petrie in 2020, means even shitholes such as Lawnton and Strathpine now have million dollar houses.
Of course, none of these figures matter when it comes to the most pressing matter affecting Lawnton residents – seeing homeless people.
Yesterday morning, a dozen police and council officers were seen bulldozing homeless people’s tents as part of the city of Moreton Bay’s new law to ban homelessness.
The council has defended themselves by stating that not only did they warn people to leave, but that they also ‘referred by council to specialist homelessness services and the Department of Housing and Public Works’ – though they might be waiting a while, seeing as there 4,521 people on the social housing waiting list.
BCF Lawnton will now face fines of up to $8,000 if staff members are seen selling tents to anyone who looks ‘unhoused’, ‘dishevelled’ or ‘completely devoid of all hope.’
More to come.
