Questions raised over duty of care after another BushCare suspension

Camp site near Petrie Creek, in Quota Park, Nambour.

by Cameron Outridge

The renewed suspension of BushCare work at a Quota Park site has raised questions about Sunshine Coast Council’s duty of care, after residents learnt that safety fears were significant enough to remove workers from the site, yet families continue to use the park without any warning or notice.

Council first withdrew BushCare teams on July 15 after reports of verbal aggression and threatening behaviour from individuals experiencing homelessness in the area.

The move was described internally as an “all of Council measure” to allow time for new safety protocols to be developed.

The Gazette understands volunteer BushCare work recently re-started after several months, but was halted at a Quota Park site, last week, following aggressive behaviour directed at workers.

However, the public has not been warned. There are no signs on site and no notice advising that Council already considers the area unsafe for its workforce, contractors and volunteers.

Petitioner and safety advocate Helen Tagg said the silence only fuelled concerns. Residents have reported altercations and ongoing unease in the parks for months.

She said learning that staff have quietly been withdrawn left many frustrated and uncertain. The safety issue has also been reflected in community feedback via Mrs Tagg’s online petition. In addition to more than 1600 signatures, the petition gathered dozens of worrying, first-hand accounts from residents.

For many, Council’s decision to withdraw its workers simply confirmed what locals have already been experiencing. One resident wrote that he regularly walked his dog through town and still feels unsafe, even as a fully capable adult male. Another resident described escalating incidents near the park beside her home, saying she no longer felt comfortable walking alone and sees smashed items, burned trolleys and broken glass most mornings.

Mrs Tagg said if conditions were serious enough for Council to pull its own workers, it validates concerns the public has been raising for months and highlights a clear gap in duty of care.

“Once Council pulls its own workers for safety reasons, it is no longer just a perception of risk, it is an acknowledged one. If staff are protected from it, the public should be too.”

She said the failure to advise residents or communicate about safety risks had eroded trust.

“If Council can act quickly to protect workers, it should act just as quickly to warn families. Leaving locals in the dark does nothing to keep them safe.”

Council CEO John Baker recently confirmed a rise in aggression toward council staff across the region and announced measures including body-worn cameras, security support and de-escalation training. However, Council has not disclosed which locations were affected and there have been no equivalent warnings issued to residents.

Mrs Tagg said the community supports staff being protected but questions why the same safety considerations have not been extended to the public, particularly given the close proximity to playgrounds and schools where children frequent.

She said her advocacy group, Nambour Now, and associated Facebook group was formed to ensure community members had a voice.

“This is about equal duty of care. If a risk is serious enough for Council to withdraw workers, residents deserve to know. We are keeping this issue in the open so solutions are shaped with the community, not behind closed doors.”

She said residents were no longer standing by quietly, but “organising around a shared commitment to make Nambour safe and supportive for everyone”.

Council’s response to Gazette’s inquiries

A statement attributable to a Sunshine Coast Council spokesperson said Council shared the community’s desire for safe, welcoming public spaces. 

“That’s why we are working with partners to find alternatives that support vulnerable individuals while maintaining safety for all.  

“We recognise that there is no single solution, but we are committed to progressing a range of compassionate, practical responses that serve both vulnerable individuals and the broader community. 

“Council continues to work closely with State Government agencies and community organisations to address homelessness in Nambour.  While councils play an important role in supporting local responses and community partnerships, the State Government has the lead responsibility for housing and homelessness services under national agreements.  

“Council is committed to being part of the solution and will continue to work closely with the State to ensure our local insights and partnerships contribute to a compassionate and effective response.”