Northern Beaches council remove homeless ‘tent city’ camp from Dee Why Beach, Sydney
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Dramatic footage shows officers chasing a resident of the controversial ‘Tent City’ built meters from one of Sydney’s most popular beaches.
Daily Mail Australia recently revealed that locals are concerned about the homeless camp set up in the sand dunes of Dee Why, on the city’s northern beaches.
Tensions mounted on Monday as images emerged of a fire in the sand dunes and of a man with a large beard being chased by police officers near the makeshift camp.
The tent town was then dramatically torn down on Tuesday by Northern Beaches Council workers “over public safety concerns,” a council spokeswoman said.
A fire lit Monday at the tent town site, next to Dee Why lagoon, forced the municipality to remove the makeshift campsite on Tuesday
Locals of the affluent suburb claim they have been robbed and threatened by shaggy sleepers living in the makeshift shelters as they walk along the beach.
Others have accused them of watching beachgoers through binoculars so they can run through the dunes and steal unattended items.
Some reports claim the tent town residents dress up as craftsmen to wander through parking garages and check for unlocked doors.
Dee Why locals say they fear the beach residents and worry that their presence has damaged the delicate ecosystem of the nearby lagoon.
Three makeshift homeless camps, which grew during the Covid pandemic, were located in the sand dunes of Dee Why Beach
On Monday, police arrested two men after one allegedly set fire to a tent in the homeless community and threatened one man with a machete and lighter – while another is accused of assaulting police.
“We have been working with relevant homeless support agencies for a number of years in an ongoing effort to provide assistance to those living in the dunes near Dee Why,” said Ray Brownlee, CEO of Northern Beaches Council.
“Homelessness is a complex issue and we have tried to approach those affected with understanding and compassion.
‘A violent incident and fire in the dunes near Dee. Why this weekend, with the help of the NSW Police, why does the council have little choice but to disband the camp and remove the growing build-up of garbage and other materials that create an ongoing fire and safety hazard.
“The Council will continue to facilitate assistance to those affected through welfare and housing agencies and communicate available support options.”
Photos of the camp show that the ground is covered in rubbish, with locals fearing the rough sleepers could affect the delicate ecosystem of the nearby lagoon
Municipal employees started clearing the dunes on Tuesday morning around 9.30 am.
The camp residents watched as their belongings were removed from the site and were told to collect them later in the day.
They have so far refused the help of the municipality to move.
Police were also on the scene to clear the campground and acted as peacekeepers.
Daily Mail Australia understands that the tent town residents previously lived in a different location around the Dee Why Lagoon, but moved closer to the beach after a fire.
The group is believed to have grown in size during the Covid pandemic with three campsites now living in the area.
Footage shows police arresting a man, not the man who allegedly started the fire, near the Dee Why tent town on Monday
A 43-year-old man and a 35-year-old man were arrested Monday near the tent town of Dee Why Beach
The council said it had been forced to remove the campsite after a man allegedly kicked a police officer in the head while they were trying to arrest him for allegedly setting fire to a shelter in the nearby ‘town’ for homeless people.
NSW police arrested the man, 35, on Monday after he reportedly set the tent on fire at about 4:30 p.m.
It was only the latest in a series of hostile events surrounding the controversial campsite.
Police arrested the 35-year-old man after discovering him at a nearby gas station.
Police said they were forced to use paprika spray during the arrest and an officer was kicked in the head.
They claim that shortly after the fire was reported, he also threatened another man in the area with a machete and lighter.
Council said it has removed the tent town, which housed rough sleepers, after two men were arrested on Monday
The man was charged with damaging property by fire, using an offensive weapon with intent to commit a criminal offence, assaulting the police and resisting and hindering the police.
NSW said the machete and lighter used in the alleged impending attack were later found in the area and taken for forensic analysis.
Another man, 43, was later arrested at Dee Why Lagoon and charged with assaulting and intimidating the police.
Dramatic footage and photos taken by witness Luke Gavahan, lukegavahanmediashows the man running away from five police officers surrounding him as he goes to the beach.
Both men were denied bail and will appear in Manly’s local court on Tuesday.
It has not been confirmed whether any of the men lived on the beach.
Emergency services responded to calls of a fire started on Dee Why beach on Monday, leading to the removal of a makeshift homeless camp on Tuesday