Homelessness debate may be reaching a turning point for the good of Nambour

by Nambour Now Chair Helen Tagg 

Seven months ago our community spoke through a petition.

We said clearly that Nambour does not want to become a version of LA’s Skid Row. We said we would not quietly accept the erosion of our town, of our dignity, or our public spaces. Nambour is a town where people care. We were not prepared to sit back and watch things slowly decline without speaking up. And we did it in the kindest way possible.

We did not call for rough sleepers to simply be moved on or erased from view. Instead we asked for something far more sensible: real collaboration between governments to address the housing crisis, stronger enforcement where needed to address anti-social behaviour, regular clean-ups, clearer communication from local government, designated safe areas for people sleeping rough in our parks and public spaces, and practical ways to contain the risks that large encampments create for both vulnerable people and the wider community.

For a time these efforts appeared to make a difference. Parks became noticeably cleaner and visible camps were fewer. Though I still had concerns. Were we resolving the issue or simply hiding it away? Outreach teams and council clean-ups became more consistent and some people were housed. It felt like progress.

However, in recent weeks encampments have begun appearing more frequently again. While some people have moved into housing and further projects are pending announcement, which is encouraging for our town, we are also seeing camps grow again in some areas, along with the public complaints that often follow.

Yet in all this time we are still waiting to see a clear action plan from leadership that properly addresses the scale of the problem and gives the public confidence that it is being taken seriously. We are still waiting for a collaborative approach that brings together government, services and community.

The solution is not simply hiding the problem out of sight. Real solutions come from encouraging a sense of belonging to our town, shared responsibility and mutual respect. No matter who you are, if you live in our town you must respect it. Drugs and antisocial behaviour are not welcome in our parks and public spaces. These are places where families gather, where children play, where businesses trade and where the community has every right to feel safe.

Protecting areas used by children and families

One of my short-term proposals to improve community cohesion was to prioritise protecting areas used heavily by children and families. This means respectfully asking those sleeping rough not to live in close proximity to sensitive locations, such as schools and playgrounds. Not out of town, but away from spaces that should remain safe for young people.

By no means does this resolve the broader problem. But it can make a small dent in improving immediate access to those spaces for children and families while also reducing the risk of long-term encampments becoming entrenched in places that are unsuitable for a number of practical reasons.

But there is still a prevailing idea, both locally and more broadly, that if we simply become more compassionate the issue will resolve itself. But compassion without clarity will never solve homelessness.

Understanding the problem, both its impact on vulnerable individuals and on the wider community, is important. But understanding must be paired with practical leadership and the willingness to act.

Part of the challenge is that public opinion on homelessness is still polarised and emotionally charged. Some voices focus primarily on compassion and tolerance, while others focus more strongly on order and enforcement. Both perspectives are driven by legitimate concerns. But in a town like Nambour, where our parks and public spaces belong to everyone, ideological arguments alone do little to solve the realities we face.

One approach can tolerate the problem while another can push it out of sight, yet neither approach on its own resolves it.

Entrenched encampments can become unsafe environments 

The reality is that large entrenched encampments can become unsafe environments. Without adequate sanitation, support services and oversight they can expose people to drugs, theft, violence and exploitation. These conditions also create health and safety risks for both those living there and the broader community, while also offering little dignity to people living in such circumstances. Acknowledging this is not a criticism of people experiencing homelessness, but a recognition of the difficult conditions that can develop within encampments.

Many vulnerable people who end up on the streets face increased risks of addiction, mental health challenges and exploitation. The stress, exposure and instability of homelessness can create an environment where these problems take hold or worsen. Recognising these realities is not about blame. It is about understanding the risks people face and why better solutions are needed.

Pretending these challenges do not exist in the pursuit of appearing compassionate does not really help anyone. 

It does not help the community and it certainly does not help the vulnerable people living in these conditions. Real compassion means confronting difficult truths and working toward solutions that restore both dignity and safety.

Important turning point to help break the cycle

This week may mark an important turning point with the council’s homelessness working group. The aim is to broaden the conversation beyond housing and support for homelessness and toward building a healthier, safer community for everyone. That has been the intention of the advocacy I began and where I believe we will ultimately find resolve.

I have high hopes that together with capable advocates and services already working in this space we can determine the next steps and begin a new chapter for our town.

The only way forward is to break the cycle together as a community. That means balanced perspectives, a clear understanding of the problem, and the political will to stand up for what is right for everyone.

Communities like Nambour are not asking for cruelty or indifference. We are asking for solutions that restore dignity for vulnerable people while protecting the towns we call home.

Helen Tagg is a Nambour community advocate and founder of the Nambour Now community group. Updates and community discussion can be found in the Nambour Now Facebook group.

Helen Tagg: “we are still waiting to see a clear action plan from leadership that properly addresses the scale of the problem and gives the public confidence that it is being taken seriously”.