Thompson calls for public meeting over homelessness crisis

Former Maroochy Shire Deputy Mayor, Trevor Thompson “I’m proud of this little town and we’ve got to fight back.”

By Cameron Outridge

Long-time resident and former Maroochy Shire Deputy Mayor Trevor Thompson has become a prominent voice for locals fed up with what they see as years of inaction over homelessness in Nambour.

Mr Thompson, who earned the nickname Mr Fixit during his council days, said while homelessness was a complex social issue, there were practical solutions available – if authorities had the will to act.

“I’m proud of this little town and we’ve got to fight back,” Mr Thompson said. “We just can’t just accept it. We’re constantly promised certain things but then nothing happens. Over many years I have seen the ups and downs in Nambour but at the moment we are in the fight of our lives.”

Over recent months, tensions in Nambour have escalated as rough sleeping, public disorder and brazen thefts have become more visible. A recent Facebook post struck a chord. In the post Mr Thompson recounted an incident where a man casually filled a haversack with groceries and walked out of a local supermarket without paying.

“When I reported it (to staff) they said, ‘it happens all the time’,” Mr Thompson wrote.

Residents have also raised concerns about safety in Apex Park and around Petrie Creek, where several homeless encampments have sprung up. Mr Thompson warned that the combination of makeshift camps and flooding risk was potentially deadly.

“We’re going to lose a life,” he said. “All it takes is a sharp storm with a big downfall to fill up Petrie Creek in no time and tents will be flooded and people may drown.”

Public Meeting

Mr Thompson has called for an urgent public meeting involving Sunshine Coast Mayor Rosanna Natoli, local councillors, state MP Marty Hunt, federal MP Ted O’Brien, and police, chaired by an independent facilitator.

“This needs to get sorted,” he said. “The current homeless problem has to be finally addressed. Let’s have a public meeting where all levels of government are present and scrutinised by us, the ratepayers. Meetings behind closed doors in a controlled environment are behind us.

“I’d like to see them all gathered in the same room in front of the public, and they’d be less likely to blame each other when they’re all together.”

Short-term solution

Mr Thompson has also outlined a practical short-term solution he said could be implemented quickly.

“A facility should be set up between all levels of government, complete with showers and toilets and adequately supervised,” he said. “These people [should be] asked to go there, and if they don’t wish to move from where they are then they should be moved on.

“This type of facility could be set up in 48 hours and has been done many times before when an emergency situation is identified, such as this with people living in a high-risk flooding area.”

He has also urged Sunshine Coast Council to “cordon off certain areas where they cannot set up camp in highly visible areas “like where the unregistered BMW is parked on public land”.

Impact on business

Mr Thompson, who was born in Nambour, said the impacts of inaction were obvious along the town’s main street.

“I did a count and of about 78 shops on the ground floor of both sides of Currie Street – from Nambour RSL to Council Chambers – a massive 35 were empty and 43 occupied,” he said.

“Our town is hurting. People will and are shopping elsewhere.”

While stressing that most homeless people posed no threat, Mr Thompson said the balance between compassion and public safety had tipped too far.

“Of course we have to realise that not every homeless person is dangerous – we can’t broad brush them,” he said. “But at the same time, they can’t just run the town, enough is enough. It’s gotten out over the media that Nambour is a soft touch and the town is dealing with the consequences of that, and it’s plain to see.”

Mr Thompson said he was motivated by love for the area and the wellbeing of its residents.

“I just want what’s best for Nambour,” he said. “It’s just something I’ve got my heart set on.”