A free camping site in Moreton Bay has opened at Wyllie Park in Petrie. For people who need somewhere to stay, it gives a no-cost option in a monitored public space.
The site sits within an existing overnight camping area. It has toilets and refuse facilities. City of Moreton Bay says it will also keep watch through CCTV and regular security patrols.
Council responds to pressure on parks
Mayor Peter Flannery said the site is not crisis accommodation or long-term housing. He said the State Government remains responsible for those services.
Still, he said Council has seen growing pressure on public parks and open spaces. That pressure has pushed Council to look for a practical response.
Division 8 Councillor Jim Moloney said Council faced a difficult task. He said it does not run crisis accommodation. However, he said public parks have come under increasing pressure.
Cr Moloney said Wyllie Park offers a viable alternative to public parks. He also said it provides a free camping option for people who need it.
A place close to support
Council says the site is voluntary and no-cost. It also says the location keeps people close to support services.
That matters. For people living rough, distance can make every step harder. A site near help may offer a little more stability when life is already uncertain.
Encircle Community Services welcomed the move. CEO Barb Power OAM said the organisation has long pushed for better housing outcomes and stronger support for people experiencing homelessness.
She said demand for affordable and social housing continues to exceed supply. That shortage, she said, keeps pressure on already stretched local services.
Ms Power said the free camping site in Moreton Bay may give people a place with more stability. She also said it could help them stay near the support they need.
A local issue with no easy fix
Council has been clear that the site is not a solution to homelessness across Moreton Bay or South East Queensland. It has also called on the State Government to back not-for-profit groups that provide crisis accommodation across the region.
Even so, the move will be noticed across North Lakes and surrounding suburbs. Housing stress is not something that sits in the background anymore. It shows up in local conversations, in service demand, and in the strain on public spaces.
The new free camping site in Moreton Bay is a practical step, not a final answer. But in a climate like this, practical steps still count.
For now, Wyllie Park is open as a free camping option for people who need it.
Published 12-August-2026
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