A Victorian council is facing backlash from ratepayers who say they feel "ashamed" by its plan to evict long-term campers from a public park.
The City of Greater Bendigo gave residents 14 days' notice on Monday to pack up and leave Huntly Lions Park, saying it would use enforcement action to remove them from Sunday, September 11.
Social justice lawyers have labelled the move a potential breach of the Charter of Human Rights.
Several locals have called and texted ABC Central Victoria's radio programs supporting the campers and criticising the council's approach, raising concerns about potentially heavy-handed tactics being used to move campers on.
"I think that we should be absolutely ashamed," Sandra told ABC Central Victoria.
"They're there because they cannot get housing. In Bendigo, we've just got this stunning, architecturally designed, new Bendigo GovHub; we've got the family law courts, and we're putting millions of dollars into our art gallery.
"But we can't give a thought to the people needing access to basic housing. I am ashamed."
Sandra said she would happily pay more in rates if it went to building basic housing for those in need.
Another texter said he earned $100,000 a year but had struggled to find housing, which he believed was because he was a single male.
Not our role, council says
Bendigo's leading housing and homelessness support organisation, Haven; Home, Safe, would not comment on the plight of campers at Huntly.
"We're engaging with everyone that presents to us and we're mindful of the confidential nature of the work we do through our rough sleeper program," a spokesperson said.
But the council's director of environment and communities, Stacy Williams, said this week it was relying on local organisations like Haven, Home, Safe, to help find residents suitable accommodation.
She said Haven, Home, Safe was the port of call for the long-term campers and it was not the council's role to help them find houses.
Residents at Huntly Lions Park said they had tried to engage with Haven; Home, Safe, but had not been successful in finding housing.
Ms Williams said local government did not build or manage social or affordable housing and did not have a role in placing people into housing.
She said the council could identify suitable areas for affordable housing in line with its action plan and that social housing was part of its inclusivity strategy.
'Washing of hands' criticised
Last Friday, the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning changed the status of the Huntly Lions Park from a camping and water supply area to a recreation reserve at the council's request, meaning camping was no longer allowed.
Council officers were accompanied by police to the park on Monday.
In July, the council said it would give the park's residents 21 days to move on, rather than 14.
The new CEO of social justice organisation ARC Justice, Damian Stock, said the council could be in contravention of the Charter of Human Rights if it moved the campers on.
"The washing of the hands here by the Bendigo City Council, essentially saying housing is not their responsibility, it's really not good enough," he said.
He said when enforcing a by-law, the council could issue a warning, a compliance notice, a fine, or direct police to issue move-on orders and charge them to attend court.
Mr Stock said the council should work with ARC Justice and Haven; Home, Safe to find proper housing solutions for the campers before it acted to remove them.
Safety complaints cited
Ms Williams said the Huntly Lions Park was set up to only be a short-term, "novelty" place for people to camp.
She said the change in its status was sparked by ratepayers' complaints.
"Over the years, the city's received various complaints around safety and amenity of the site," she said.
Camper Lee-Anne Gray, who lives at the park in a caravan with her 25-year-old son, said most of the campers known to cause problems had moved away more than three months ago.
