June 12, 2026
South Burnett Regional Council has prepared a large block of industrial-zoned land at the end of Cornish Street in Kingaroy to act as a “temporary overflow” area for homeless campers.
The area, behind the South Burnett CTC headquarters, has been mowed and water has been extended into the area.
Homeless campers have been using the free-stays areas in Murgon, Wondai, Wooroolin and Nanango for several years, however Kingaroy does not have a free-stay area which has led to homeless people camping in public parks in the CBD, including the Duck Pond area and Lions Park in Kingaroy Street; as well as the Glendon Street car park.
This has caused issues for families and children using these spaces for recreation.
When Council officers asked the campers to move on, the people said they had been advised by welfare groups that it would be all right to stay there.
Commercial caravan parks across the region will not take them in.
“Council has been left to deal with this social mess,” a Council spokesperson said.
“However, Council has a human rights responsibility.
“This is not a long-term answer. It is just a temporary overflow to help people camping in urban areas until they can find a better solution.”
It’s good to see at least one council has some heart.
The relentless imposition of unaffordable building regulations and compliance BS (NCC) is a significant part (if not the major cause) of this homelessness. My first home (with 3 children housed) was a 91m2 hardiplank box. Cold and inefficient…but home and I’m sure I didn’t pay $945 (2025) to get the footing inspection.
I suggest Council liaise firstly with the owners of businesses in the industrial estate. I doubt shops in town would not like a tent city next to their business. At no stage were we consulted. Quite poor actually.
This is an important community discussion. While I fully support efforts to provide safe and appropriate accommodation for people experiencing homelessness, it’s equally important that any proposal carefully considers the potential impacts on surrounding businesses, residents and community services. Open consultation, strong support programs and thoughtful planning will be essential to ensure positive outcomes for those in need while maintaining the vibrancy and economic wellbeing of the local area. It would also be beneficial for the community to understand how essential facilities such as showers, toilets, waste management and other support services will be provided and managed. I look forward to seeing how the community is engaged throughout the process.
I appreciate the comments that acknowledge the need for compassion, and I also understand the view that more consultation could have been done.
However, people who don’t have somewhere safe to live often can’t afford to wait while processes involving local businesses and timeframes play out. This is the reality for many residents in our smaller towns as well, where the pressure of limited and unaffordable accommodation means people are trying to manage without stable housing immediately.
Council is not stepping away from its responsibilities here.
Council has made land available that is located close to essential amenities, and it has been provided for use by CTC, which is funded by the State Government to support people experiencing homelessness.
That is exactly the kind of action a council should take, using the resources it has to look after the most vulnerable in our community.
I’m proud to be part of this Council, and I remain committed to both compassion for those in need and practical solutions that provide real support.
Temporary overflow sounds great. New site, new hope, new expectations.
But what is “temporary”? Where do the homeless go after the tenant expiry date?
In the meantime, what are the council plans for toilets and waste? Will compliance be enforced? If so, how will it happen?
There are other tiers of government who should be taking ownership.
I understand council wishes for social justice, but this seems to be unplanned and not enforceable.
Have some compassion people. Through no fault of your own it could be you some day.
Well done to the council (not something I say very often).
I think the home owners and renters should have been considered during this decision. Most with young children. Not an ideal position for a tent city. I am fully aware people need somewhere to go but definitely not near a residential area.
I bet the people who think it is a great idea don’t live within two blocks of this area.
This is a compassionate idea… however most other Councils are moving homeless people on, witness Moreton and Gold Coast’s recent efforts.
ALL councils should set aside space, or what will happen is locals who are homeless and deserve somewhere safe will soon be inundated with other people from other council areas who are less caring.
Will there be any checks to make sure only local people can access this? Or will it be open to anyone, potentially from any Queensland area that moves homeless people on?
In no time, this site could become packed and be dangerous as a major fire risk and, as others have noted, a health hazard as regards waste.
Will there be safety inspections? Who pays for that? A charity or the ratepayers, already burdened with high rates in these lean times?
It doesn’t take long for an area to become known for cheap accommodation.
I remember in the 90s, travelling up from the city to my farm, there wasn’t a weekend I didn’t see a car pulling a trailer-load of home goods making the trip from the expensive city to cheaper Kingaroy to live.
Helping locals … yes. But beware of getting a reputation as an area that’s open to everyone, or we will GET everyone.
A lot more thought and planning should have gone into this, not just *clearing a paddock and providing water*. After all, if this was someone making a caravan park, they would have to pass multiple inspections and provide adequate facilities.
While some may think rosy thoughts of happy, well-behaved campers living in harmony, the reverse could equally be true … 1000s of people, moved on from the city, bringing an atmosphere for crime, drugs and drink-related violence to flourish in.
Swickers Abattoirs must take responsibility and build accommodation (ie. three-story walk-up units) on THEIR land to accommodate their workers. The cost of living increases have created desperate times for desperate people. Kingaroy families are suffering!
The South Burnett community appreciates that this company employs thousands of workers, hundreds who come from neighbouring countries, some bringing their families, but many I have spoken to live in poor housing conditions, renting in private homes shared with other strangers.
Because there are no affordable rentals!
Swickers as a business has long taken advantage of the cheapness of performing in the Kingaroy area making the company, immense profits. Apart from local wages, South Burnett businesses receive little monies back in to prosper the people and the town.
SB Council must be a voice for the ratepayers and approach such businesses throughout the district, beginning with Swickers, for housing change to ensure a safe and acceptable standard of living … before Kingaroy becomes a tent city.
Reading these comments, it’s a “damn if you do or damn if you don’t”. Well done council for doing something.
There are no public toilets or showers nearby so where will people go?
And the CTC offices nearby are not where the support services are located.
The comment about CTC’s funding is misleading. I was told most of their funding is for youth homelessness not adults.
I appreciate the sentiment, but as a parent with children at the school less the 500m walk away – has this placement been considered at all? This sounds like an unsafe situation waiting to happen. Also, there is very clear studies on the impacts of ‘congregative’ style living in homelessness – it has very negative impacts on the mental wellbeing and self worth of the residents. And while I realise this is temporary – it must be enforced that way as a helping hand, as very quickly it will become just that – congregative living.
How about charging residents $50 a week a site so they have some ownership, not just a handout? Plus help recoup some of the costs to rate payers.
I assume the cost of insurance for council has now gone up as we are now providing long-term accommodation and with that comes all sorts of responsibilities.
Are short-term free camps in other towns now going to be appropriately monitored and have long-term free campers moved on?
Excellent points, Andrew. As a homeowner (no, not lucky or rich, just worked hard all my life, no super, no luxuries, 21% interest and 50% of my wage going to pay the house off) who now pays the Council FOUR thousand dollars a year in rates (nearly 20% of the aged pension), I think a *plot* system is a great idea.
Each plot could be numbered. People would have to prove their identities to keep out the criminal element and a contribution could be collected.
Also, remember, a compliance officer’s wage will have to be paid, and I really don’t think it’s fair that ratepayers should bear an extra burden in these times ( many of whom are also paying mortgages) just so Council can feel “warm and fuzzy”.
The residents who are actually supporting the councillors’ wages should have first consideration, not those who will be getting a free ride care of being homeless. It makes me want to buy a fancy Winnebago, park up, and spare myself the rates notice every six months!
People have long memories, and those who feel this wasn’t a good move will think carefully next election.
I’m not against the homeless, just the criminal element that is often involved.
And, I don’t need to be burdened by any more rates increases, which thanks to unrealistic house prices, have run away like a bolting horse.
Seems a very hard issue to make a decision on, I don’t think there is a way to make this call and keep everyone happy, at least not in a timely fashion. I can’t say I would be too keen to have this next to my house, but that being said I truly don’t believe the majority of the homeless are pests or criminals, either. I think if in doubt you have to fall back on your humanity with such decisions and I think the benefits to those people this will help outweigh the negative impact on others.
The Mayor has already said she will not move anyone on, which is a lovely sentiment, except it basically tells compliance officers to pack up their clipboards and take the rest of the year off. Hard to enforce rules when the official position is that they won’t be enforced.
And let’s be honest Council isn’t even checking who is genuinely homeless and who is simply choosing to live for free. No intake, no verification. Just turn up, set up, and stay indefinitely.
We’ve already watched this play out across the region. Years of complaints about overstayers magically turned our 48‑hour camps into stay as long as you like, we’ll just change the rules when we feel like it.
Take Wondai, the camp sits right beside a school bus stop. Parents have found drug utensils where their kids stand every morning. When raised, a councillor suggested it could have come from a homeowner. Because yes, homeowners famously wander around at dawn dropping syringes at bus stops.
Public urination in broad daylight? Also dismissed. Apparently that’s now part of the region’s rustic charm.
Meanwhile, rubbish removal has become a full‑time job for Council staff. Ratepayers foot the bill while long‑term campers leave behind everything except a thank‑you note. One councillor even stated the Murgon free camp costs around $60,000 a year and that’s just one site. We have several. And now we’ve added another.
At this point, the message is pretty clear:
If you’re a ratepayer, you pay more and get less.
If you’re an overstayer, you get free water, free rubbish removal, free hot showers, no fees, no enforcement, and the freedom to fence off your own little kingdom.
Honestly, if this is the new housing strategy, everyone should sell their home while prices are good, buy a big comfortable caravan, and move into one of our seven free camps. Bring your animals, put up fencing, stake your claim it seems to be the only lifestyle in the South Burnett that comes with guaranteed protection from compliance.
The community deserves better than this temporary overflow approach that somehow always becomes permanent just like our 48hr camps!