Council rejects blame for sleeping pod project delays
Published on 01 July 2024
The City of Launceston is disappointed to again have to correct an inaccurate narrative being put forward by Strike it Out.
The Council has asked Strike it Out to remove two trailers it parked on Council land without permission.
The Council made the request last week after receiving multiple complaints from community members about escalating anti-social behaviour, drug use, and infrastructure damage at the Northern Inveresk Car Park where the trailers have been parked.
City of Launceston Acting Mayor Hugh McKenzie said it was extremely disappointing that Strike it Out had chosen not to work collaboratively with the Council, and was instead illegally parking the trailers on Council property.
"The City of Launceston has sought to have a constructive and collaborative relationship with Strike it Out, to avoid situations where our homeless community are put at risk," Cr McKenzie said.
"Strike it Out has consistently blamed the City of Launceston for delays to the rollout of its shower and sleeping pod trailer project, despite the Council clearly articulating the simple steps required to progress these initiatives. Despite multiple engagements with Strike it Out, going back as far as November 2022, we are no further along."
Timeline:
November 2022
The City of Launceston is first made aware of Strike it Out's proposal for a sleep pod trailer, proposed to be housed at Door of Hope.
March 2023
Correspondence received from Strike it Out relating to the sleep pod trailer project. The City of Launceston's written response outlines some of the work Strike it Out will need to complete, including details on how the site would be managed, hours of operation, and a comprehensive risk assessment.
June — September 2023
Strike it Out discusses possibility of using Park St as a location for the trailer. Strike it Out later advises that Council land was no longer being considered for the project. November 2023 Strike it Out submits an unsuccessful Expression of Interest for the historic Frederick St infant school property
December 2023
Following comments from Strike it Out in the media criticising the Council, the Council reached out to remind Strike it Out that documentation was required to progress the sleeping pod trailer project.
April 2024
Strike it Out emails some documents to the Council regarding the sleeping pod trailer proposal.
May 2024
Strike it Out requests to trial its shower trailer at the Northern Inveresk Car Park. Council officers meet with Strike It Out and provide feedback on updated proposal. Officers requested the following information:
Add additional detail to risk assessment
Seek MOUs from partner organisations
Explore the Privacy Act to ensure intake form does not convene anyone's rights, particularly collected data storage Review the State's land list Seek legal advice on documentation
Consider advocacy to the State Government should it have any parcels of land that may suit the service
June 2024
— June 18:
Strike it Out makes a request to the Council's Events Department to park its sleeping pod trailer in public parking bays on Charles St and is again informed it requires a permit as this is not an 'event'.
— June 26:
The Council contact Strike it Out by phone and email in the morning to request the trailers be removed or further action will be taken to remove them and requests an update from Strike it Out by 5:00pm.
— June 28:
Strike it Out contacts the Council and says the trailers will be removed as soon as possible. Despite the passing of two deadlines, the Council still has not taken formal action as yet.
July 2024
Strike It Out publishes Facebook post with inaccuracies including that the Council has or intends to ask people to move on, which is untrue.
"If Strike it Out is serious about finding a resolution for its shower and sleeping pod trailer projects, we encourage the organisation to work with us on options, which may include their roll-out on private, state or council-owned land," Cr McKenzie said.
"In the meantime we are not confident that the safety and wellbeing of potential sleep pod users is sufficiently addressed by Strike It Out due to the lack of updated documentation and it is on this basis we have asked for the trailers to be removed.
Cr McKenzie said the City of Launceston had recently adopted its Homelessness Statement of Commitment and that was an 'important moment'.
"But our commitment does not replace the responsibility of other levels of government to address the shortfall in accommodation — particularly crisis and transitional housing, and ensuring agencies integral to this space, such as City Mission and Vinnies, have the resources to do the work they are so passionate and knowledgeable about," he said.
"It is also important to note the Council has not asked people experiencing homelessness to move on from the Invermay area, despite social media commentary stating otherwise.
"So far as we have been able to establish, Strike it Out's trailers have not been operating with any consistency since being parked in the car park, even prior to the Council requesting their removal."
Cr McKenzie said the Council had been waiting for information and documentation from Strike it Out from as far back as March last year and most recently from the meeting in May.
"Our people committed to review any sites identified by Strike it Out but so far they still haven't come back to us.
"We have also repeatedly offered to help Strike it Out to progress the situation but these offers have not been accepted.
"It's important to us that our residents and ratepayers understand the reality of this situation and our commitment to those people experiencing homelessness.
"We as a Council are continuing to learn and adapt in an ever-changing space regarding what is a very complex and multi-faceted issue, and we'll continue to work with all agencies, levels of government and support-providers to achieve better outcomes for our most vulnerable community members."