No more: The homeless camp in Petrie Plaza. Photos: Ian Bushnell.
The ramshackle camp in Petrie Plaza has been cleared and its occupants moved on, apparently in time for this weekend’s Moon Festival in the city.
While the ACT Government had taken a light touch to the unsightly makeshift shelters put together by a core group of four homeless people, including a couple, it decided to act on 26 August, sending in Licensing and Compliance officers.
It came four days after Minister for Homes and New Suburbs Yvette Berry told Region that clearing the camp would just be moving the problem somewhere else.
“We want to make sure we have a sustainable solution to this and that’s just going to take a little bit more time,” Ms Berry said.
A government spokesperson said officers removed dangerous or hazardous objects such as needles, sharps, litter and rubbish, and issued a Removals Direction ordering the occupants to remove their property from the public land within seven days.
On Wednesday, 3 September, officers returned to the site and collected and impounded the remaining property.
The only items remaining on Thursday morning were shopping trolleys left by the carousel.
The Canberra Moon Festival will take place in Petrie Plaza and City Walk from 5-7 September.
The spokesperson said the government acknowledged the removal of unauthorised property from Petrie Plaza was a deeply sensitive and challenging situation for everyone involved.
“While this decision is part of our regulatory responsibilities, we recognise homelessness is a complex issue that cannot be addressed through enforcement alone,” the spokesperson said.
The government did not say specifically what had happened to the former occupants or whether they had been given a roof over their heads.
But Vinnies said its Street to Home program, which has provided support for those sleeping rough in Petrie Plaza over the past few weeks, had been able to find appropriate accommodation for some of them.
It is understood Housing ACT was also involved.
A few shopping trolleys are all that’s left of the camp.
St Vincent de Paul Society Canberra/Goulburn CEO Lucy Hohnen said the team had been able to find secure housing for some of the former occupants and would continue to work with the others to provide solutions.
“Homelessness is deeply complex,” she said. “It’s not just about housing. Every person sleeping rough has a story shaped by systemic gaps and personal hardship.
“We walk alongside those who need us, advocating for sustainable solutions and ensuring dignity for every person we support.”
The government said it would also continue to work with people sleeping rough to make sure they had the necessary support, including from Street to Home and other homelessness services.
“Our priority is to ensure every person affected is treated with dignity and compassion,” the spokesperson said.
“We are working closely with homelessness services and outreach teams to connect individuals with the support they need – whether that’s safe accommodation, health care or other essential services.
“Each day, our teams are actively engaging with people in the area to understand their circumstances and offer tailored assistance.”
Local businesses and the broader community were also being supported.
“We thank Canberrans for their patience and understanding, and we reaffirm our commitment to doing everything we can to support those experiencing homelessness,” the spokesperson said.
The Canberra Moon Festival will take place in Petrie Plaza and City Walk from 5 to 7 September.
