Perth Voice Interactive

PERTH city council is cracking down hard on homeless people camping out at Heirisson Island/Matagarup.

On Tuesday and Wednesday rangers accompanied by police swept through the camp to confiscate goods.

The camp has become a home to political activists, homeless people and even a couple of backbackers.

The raids were of an intensity that has not been seen since last August.

Tents, sleeping gear, fishing rods and kids’ toys were reportedly amongst goods confiscated.

By law the confiscated goods must be returned within seven days but the council is saying nothing will be returned until the owners cover the council’s confiscation expenses.

This week the council broke its silence on its actions at the camp, issuing a media statement through PR officer Michael Holland: “illegal camping on Heirisson Island has led to the implementation of section 3.39 of the local government act by the City of Perth, in line with the community’s and ratepayer’s expectations”.

He cited anti-camping laws chapter and verse, though activists believe they have a right to be there, protected by federal law superseding council policies.

Mr Holland said, “one stolen vehicle, several unregistered vehicles and one vehicle fitted with stolen number plates have been seized”.

“Heirisson Island is local government property under local law and a valued recreational reserve.”

The statement says the PCC has kept records of confiscated goods and they’ll be available for collection once people pay “the costs of removing, impounding and storing the items”.

Mr Holland claimed 80 per cent of tents impounded had been vacant: homeless advocate Jennifer Kaeshagan explains people don’t typically stick around during the day, returning to the camp only at night to sleep.

Dean Brakema is camping on the island with his five kids. He arrived from Victoria in early January and was working at first but now is looking after the kids as his partner has contracted health problems.

He says the camp’s “been amazing” for his family.

“We’ve got a whole new family since we got here. When we got here we had maybe five or 10 dollars to our name. Herbie [Bropho] and [his partner] Charlotte took us in,” he says. Another homeless person chimed in, “if it wasn’t for Herbie we wouldn’t have a safe place to sleep tonight”. While some are there as activists, making a point about land rights, others are homeless who’ve chosen the island over the back alleys of Northbridge.

The Voice asked if there were drug or alcohol issues on the island and Mr Brakema said it’s far better than other places he’s stayed.

“As much as possible we try to keep it completely drug and alcohol free,” he says. The Voice understands campers called police when a woman tried to deal meth.

“No matter where you are there’s always someone,” Mr Brakema says. “But I’ve stayed in caravan parks and motels all up and down the east coast, and this place has been better run and organised than most caravan parks I’ve stayed in.”

The council’s statement says “the city will continue to monitor Heirisson Island for breaches of local law, which may result in prosecution”.

by DAVID BELL and MATTHEW DWYER

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The real story?

WHILE homeless folk had their tents confiscated, stripping them of their shelter from the elements, journalists complained about their vehicles being ticketed.

Perth city council withdrew the fines.

Rangers had ticketed the cars $75 each, then another $100 for not moving.

Shortly after 6PR tweeted about the fines, two rangers removed the tickets from the vehicles and cancelled them.

But the council is refusing to show the same consideration to a homeless family — it’s still expected to pay the $500 fine slapped on its broken down vehicle, despite calls from WA Labor senator Sue Lines for it to be withdrawn on compassionate grounds.

CEO Martin Mileham wrote to Senator Lines saying “the city is unable to waive the fine as this will contravene the city’s local law”.

As for the Voice, our photographer asked where he could park and followed directions to a spot about 600m away. Wearing less ridiculous shoes than most reporters he walked to the camp on foot.