A new free camping site for tents will be provided at Wyllie Park in Petrie, giving people experiencing homelessness another place to stay during a 12-month trial.
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The site was approved by the City of Moreton Bay and will offer a voluntary, no-cost camping option for people unable to access crisis accommodation, emergency housing or paid camping grounds.
Wyllie Park is on Gympie Road, close to Petrie train station, the University of the Sunshine Coast’s Moreton Bay campus and The Mill Waterpark. The existing overnight camping area has toilets and refuse facilities, with CCTV monitoring and regular security patrols planned.
A place close to support services
Encircle Community Services CEO Barb Power said demand for affordable and social housing was continuing to exceed supply, placing greater pressure on local services.
“Demand for affordable and social housing continues to exceed supply which is putting increased pressure on already stretched local services and is leaving those experiencing homelessness feeling like they have nowhere to go,” Ms Power said.
Ms Power welcomed the Wyllie Park site, saying it would provide people experiencing homelessness with an option close to support services, where they could have greater stability and not fear being moved on.
The site’s proximity to public transport is another practical feature, with Petrie train station nearby. Its existing facilities mean the trial will use an established overnight camping area with toilets and refuse facilities.
The new site is intended to provide an alternative to people sleeping rough in other public parks and spaces. The City of Moreton Bay has stated that Wyllie Park is not intended to replace crisis accommodation or longer-term housing.
Twelve-month trial
The 12-month trial will provide time for the new camping arrangement to operate under the planned monitoring and security measures. CCTV monitoring and regular security patrols are planned, while the voluntary arrangement will provide another option for people experiencing homelessness.
City of Moreton Bay Mayor Peter Flannery said the initiative was not a solution to homelessness across the region.
“The fact is we have seen an increase in people using our parks and public spaces, and there has been a reduction in services by crisis accommodation charities facing funding cuts,” Cr Flannery said.
Cr Flannery said the site was an attempt to balance the needs of residents with those of people experiencing homelessness.
Read: Hope Centre Moreton Opens Doors To Homeless During Cyclone
The site will provide people experiencing homelessness with a free place to camp in Petrie, with basic facilities, nearby public transport and a location that Encircle says is close to support services. The 12-month trial will show how the new arrangement operates and whether it provides the stability described by its supporters.
Published 18-August-2026
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