‘People want a fair outcome, but they also want to feel safe’: Cr backs calls for clearer management

Council can not ignore the community’s safety concerns, particularly around parks and playgrounds.

Cr Winston Johnston

Sunshine Coast Councillor Winston Johnston (Div 5) says Nambour’s homelessness challenge has become increasingly difficult to manage and needs a more coordinated response, with clearer guidance on where people can and cannot camp.

Cr Johnston said the issue had existed for some time but had intensified as people had shifted north seeking services and support. He stressed the situation was complex, with individuals experiencing homelessness for various reasons – from job loss and housing stress to mental health, addiction and long-term instability.

But he said council could not ignore the community’s safety concerns, particularly around parks and playgrounds.

‘People want a fair outcome, but they also want to feel safe. We have to find a workable middle ground for everyone’ 

Cr Johnston said that while most residents recognised the need for compassion, they also expected basic safeguards. “If people are going to remain in an area, they should not be located where families and children go. Public safety has to be a priority,” he said.

He believes council must consider designating a small number of suitable areas – locations away from sensitive community spaces but still with access to essential amenities – to allow police to enforce boundaries and reduce conflict. Police, he said, had indicated they could manage the issue more effectively if such zones were established.

Cr Johnston said homelessness was primarily a State Government responsibility, but local impacts fell heavily on council, local businesses and residents. 

He said most councillors were aware of the seriousness of the situation, even where it fell outside their divisions.

He also acknowledged the pressure felt by businesses and families who had reported incidents of threatening or antisocial behaviour and said their concerns could not be dismissed.

Cr Johnston said the challenge required cooperation across government and service providers, balanced with community expectations. 

“It’s a very sensitive issue,” he said. “People want a fair outcome, but they also want to feel safe. We have to find a workable middle ground for everyone.”