2017-05-24 Special Meeting Agenda

SPECIAL MEETING AGENDA                                                                24 MAY 2017


There are occasional weeds such as Umbrella Tree and Lantana on the property, but no significant
weed infestations.

4.   Social Issues

Progressively over the last two decades Johns Landing has become a place for long term
homeless people to live - some by choice, some because they are in hiding, some because they
have no-where else to go.

Currently it is estimated that almost 70 people (including between 20 - 25 young people) are
residing in the camping ground, many of whom have lived at Johns Landing for years. The quality
of their makeshift housing is very poor.

The Department of Communities and Police are regularly called to the venue for disturbances and
reports of neglect. Over the past few years the Department of Housing, United Synergies
homelessness program and Coast2Bay have attempted to assist people out of the venue, to
various level of success because the camping ground remains open and long term residents often
return there.

The Anglican Church Noosa provides a fortnightly dinner for residents and provide a level of
support and contact to people in need. On a regular basis, 15-20 people attend, some of them are
children whose parents avoid making contact. More recently a group called Campside Rescue
has been providing meals as well.

Council and the RSPCA ran a program in 2016 to desex and register dogs in the camping ground.

Basic hygiene, drinking water quality and vector borne diseases are a concern for Council’s
Environmental Health Officers.

Johns Landing was identified by the Social Strategy Working Group who helped Council to develop
its Social Strategy as the most significant social issue in the Shire.

In recognition of the significant upheaval to those people living at Johns Landing resulting from a
closure of the camping ground, and in accordance with proposed actions in its Social Strategy,
Council has bought together a community round table comprising government agencies and not
for profit groups to assist the people of Johns Landing to transition to new accommodation prior to
any closure of the camping ground.

Council recognises and appreciates the voluntary participation by all organisations in the
roundtable process.

5.   Options for consideration

The impending retirement of Ben Johns and the potential to purchase Johns Landing provides
Council with a unique opportunity to:
1.   Acquire a strategic parcel of environmental land on the Noosa River with high environmental
     values;
2.   Work with a coalition of government and non-government agencies to address the social
     issues present at Johns Landing in a coordinated and constructive way to achieve long term
     positive outcomes for the people living there; and
3.   Acquire at a reasonable price a parcel of land on the Noosa River with the potential to develop
     a portion of the land as a camping ground or day recreation area.




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