I spend a ton of time using the walkways and local trails around my area whether it's riding, running or walking the dog. I know the common spots that some deadshits hang out and make arseholes of themselves and I know the spots that homeless people hang out. I'm okay with going through some areas on a bike as it's a quick lap past them and I'm off in the other direction. On foot? Nah, I skip these areas.
Of late, I've noticed an increase in homeless people camping in fairly commonly used areas and seemingly not giving a shit. One area is in a bushland reserve that adjoins the small river that is tidal and runs out to see. A couple has occupied a a park bench next to the river for some months now and have an almighty fire raging of a night with a tent set up pretty close by and badly hidden. The trees around their camp have been raped of any branch within reach and the area stinks and is covered in their rubbish. In the early stages of them arriving, I was on a run and ran past them thinking it was pretty ordinary of them to set up where they had. About ten minutes up the track I cam across two late teenage girls who had run past them and did not want to go back that way as the bloke had yelled something to them and alarmed them. I told them to run back with me (to paint the picture, they were bloody gorgeous!) and I'd make sure they got away without a care. Sure enough, the bush was getting a little darker and the fire this guy had lit was raging. I couldn't see him for the flame but he was there yelling out again as we came past.
I'm not usually one to make anything of someone's misfortune or judge anyone by the choices they make but this pair are a menace and are frightening people on a stretch of rate payer funded trail. I've tried searching some topics but have come up empty as to what the laws and rules may b on homeless people as it is more a sympathetic approach instead of pointing out that in many instances they are drunk bums leaving their rubbish around and creating a bad vibe.
Any advice? I've thought about going troppo at them and telling them to fuck off somewhere else but I reckon I'd wear some bong water for my trouble. I'd speak to the local Council but they are as useful as a handbrake on a canoe and they play a part in the problem by leaving plastic containers of food on the Council steps each night! I guess my only option is to call the Police and point out that they are pretty unsightly people and are creating a problem for users of the area? Any advice or sites that I should look into?
Of late, I've noticed an increase in homeless people camping in fairly commonly used areas and seemingly not giving a shit. One area is in a bushland reserve that adjoins the small river that is tidal and runs out to see. A couple has occupied a a park bench next to the river for some months now and have an almighty fire raging of a night with a tent set up pretty close by and badly hidden. The trees around their camp have been raped of any branch within reach and the area stinks and is covered in their rubbish. In the early stages of them arriving, I was on a run and ran past them thinking it was pretty ordinary of them to set up where they had. About ten minutes up the track I cam across two late teenage girls who had run past them and did not want to go back that way as the bloke had yelled something to them and alarmed them. I told them to run back with me (to paint the picture, they were bloody gorgeous!) and I'd make sure they got away without a care. Sure enough, the bush was getting a little darker and the fire this guy had lit was raging. I couldn't see him for the flame but he was there yelling out again as we came past.
I'm not usually one to make anything of someone's misfortune or judge anyone by the choices they make but this pair are a menace and are frightening people on a stretch of rate payer funded trail. I've tried searching some topics but have come up empty as to what the laws and rules may b on homeless people as it is more a sympathetic approach instead of pointing out that in many instances they are drunk bums leaving their rubbish around and creating a bad vibe.
Any advice? I've thought about going troppo at them and telling them to fuck off somewhere else but I reckon I'd wear some bong water for my trouble. I'd speak to the local Council but they are as useful as a handbrake on a canoe and they play a part in the problem by leaving plastic containers of food on the Council steps each night! I guess my only option is to call the Police and point out that they are pretty unsightly people and are creating a problem for users of the area? Any advice or sites that I should look into?
