{
  "id": 716696,
  "title": "Queensland council to turn park into a dedicated homeless camp",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/13/queensland-council-to-turn-park-into-a-dedicated-homeless-camp",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-13T00:20:07.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "ABC News AU",
    "slug": "abc-news-au",
    "url": "https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-08-13/moreton-bay-free-homeless-camp-ay-wyllie-park/107031700"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The City of Moreton Bay council plans to transform Wyllie Park in Petrie into a designated homeless camp for three months as part of a trial. This decision follows the council's loss in a court case where it was found to have violated the human rights of homeless individuals by evicting them from public parks in 2025. The park already serves as an overnight camping area with basic amenities, and will offer 60 free sites for those who cannot afford standard rent or caravan park fees. The trial aims to provide a centralized location for support services, rather than having rough sleepers scattered across the city. Mayor Peter Flannery emphasized the importance of offering a safe and supportive location for homeless individuals, following the court ruling that the council should have provided alternative accommodation when none was available.\n\nHowever, the initiative has faced criticism from Nourish Street, a charity providing essential supplies to homeless people in the area. Founder Beau Haywood expressed concerns about the trial's ability to address the diverse needs of the homeless population, including families with children, the elderly, those with mental health issues, and individuals battling addiction. Haywood also noted that his charity was not consulted about the trial, suggesting that it may be a knee-jerk reaction from the council. He raised concerns that the park's limit of 60 sites may not be sufficient to support the region's accommodation needs, as Nourish Street's recent food distribution covered 174 sites. While the trial aims to provide a safe environment for rough sleepers, critics argue that without adequate support, security measures, and pathways to permanent housing, it may create new problems rather than solve existing ones.",
  "summary": "A park in Moreton Bay will soon become a free, legal campsite for people experiencing homelessness under a 12-month trial by the local council.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}