Rough sleepers in tent city face uncertainty as upcoming festival threatens community

Dozens of Aussies sleeping rough in a so-called "tent city" may now face having to forfeit the only place they call home, with the park they inhabit set to be cleared next month to make way for a festival.

There are currently some 60 tents at Musgrave Park in South Brisbane, which has become known as a makeshift community for those in desperate need of housing. Residents of the park say they don't know what will become of their home when the Paniyiri Festival comes to town, but according to council, "there are strict processes in place to ensure occupied tents aren't removed".

Paul Slater, who runs the Northwest Community Group — a charity to help the homeless — sets up stands twice a week to give away food, clothes, toiletries and tents at the park. Previously speaking to Yahoo News Australia, Slater said the pop-up community reflects the overall dire state of the nation's housing crisis.

Uncertain future for residents living in 'tent city' in Musgrave Park

Slater said the country is in "a housing emergency" and that "these people aren't here by choice". Extortionate rental prices and a lack of suitable housing have been blamed for Australia's rise in homelessness, with wild weather also posing several safety concerns for those in the park too, Slater explained.

"They're often praying for anything to help them get out of the situation that they're in," he said. "They get stuff stolen, their tents get damaged and they can't sleep because of the noise."

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Now, Slater says residents have been left in the lurch with regard to the upcoming festival.

"We're not really sure what the plan is and what they're going to do," Slater told A Current Affair.

"It's actually a big worry for us and for the residents, they're coming to me every day and asking have you heard what's going on, are we going to have somewhere to sleep?"

The charity worker branded Australia's worsening housing crisis as a result a "perfect storm" of conditions. "I'm really passionate about everyone deserving a place to sleep at night," he said.

"I think we're in the kind of perfect storm at the moment with the cost-of-living crisis, housing crisis. It sort of woke up a fire in me and made me want to, instead of talking about it, just do it."

Council pledges to work with residents during upcoming festival

While Slater claims residents of the park have been left confused over what's to come, a Brisbane City Council spokesperson said it was their priority not to disrupt people's living arrangements.

"Last year, we worked with organisers and the State Government to ensure the Paniyiri Festival proceeded with support provided to those sleeping rough and we're hopeful the same can occur this year," the spokesperson told ACA.

"However, it is completely unacceptable for people to be living in tents and cars while the taxpayer-funded 500-bed Pinkenba quarantine facility sits idle and unused.

"Council has a strict process in place to ensure occupied tents aren't removed. Council has a longstanding working relationship with Mr Slater and the Northwest Community group and disused tents are returned to Mr Slater when appropriate and practical."

Housing department weighs in

Vicky Meyer from Queensland's Department of Housing said crews were on the ground five days a week to try to find an outcome for all involved.

"We've rolled out a dedicated team to help people sleeping rough in Brisbane and offer them a safe place to stay. To date they've helped 480 people," he said.

"That team has been on the ground every day, and will continue to offer accommodation as well as work with event organisers and council in the lead up to the festival."

Queensland isn't the only state where dire levels of homelessness occur, just last month Yahoo News reported on the mounting calls for immediate government funding to address the lack of public housing in NSW, with almost 60,000 applicants currently on the waitlist for a home in the state.

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