Photo and story by Dennis Amor

MANY campers partly responsible for the closure of a popular rest area north of Brisbane were problem families, it has been revealed.

Pine Rivers Shire Council has now banned caravanners and other travellers from overnight stays at Wyllie Park on the Old Gympie Road, Petrie, after an avalanche of complaints from angry local residents who claimed it had become a "tent ghetto".

They also complained about travellers turning the riverside area into a 'shanty town', with lines of washing strung between trees and many caravanners and motorhomers blatantly overstaying the 48-hour limit.

The rest area was used by many travellers, particularly southerners making their way north for the winter sunshine, and was often full to overflowing.

But the main target of the local residents' anger was people in tents and others sleeping in cars. Some campers actually pitched their tents under signs clearly warning it was prohibited.

In a statement, Pine Rivers Shire Council said signs had now been erected banning trucks, caravans, motorhomes, camper vans, and camper-trailers from January 21.

More signs would be installed to make this clear to other "temporary residents" of Wyllie Park, the statement said.

The council had been working with the local neighbourhood centre and the State Government's Department of Housing to find alternative accommodation for the 10 families who had been staying in the park "on an ongoing basis".

Acting chief executive officer Kevin Denison said apart from homelessness, these former "residents" had problems including alcoholism, childcare, financial debt and anger management. They were receiving counselling and support.

"Council and Pine Rivers Neighbourhood Centre staff have had great success in identifying the barriers facing these families in finding suitable accommodation and assisting in the resolution of these challenges," he said.
 

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