>
Horror in the sand dunes: infamous Australian homeless beach camp suddenly returns as paramedics arrive on the scene over possible overdose
- A woman has suspected overdose in the homeless hub of Dee Why’s ‘tent city’
- It comes after Northern Beaches Council tore down makeshift tents this month
- The homeless shelter has been a fixture on Dee Why beach for two years
- But they are back, as the elderly woman was rushed to the hospital on Thursday
<!–
<!–
<!–<!–
<!–
<!–
<!–
A woman has suffered a suspected drug overdose at a controversial tent city homeless shelter on a popular beach just weeks after authorities broke open makeshift shelters at the site.
Emergency services were called to Dee Why Lagoon on Sydney’s affluent Northern Beaches on Thursday morning to treat the elderly woman at or near the site.
The incident comes after police tackled a bearded machete-wielding man at the beachfront location earlier this month, prompting the Northern Beaches Council to clean up the tents and discarded debris.
But just days later, it is understood that new tents have already been erected in the area.
Emergency services were called to Dee Why Lagoon on Sydney’s affluent northern beaches on Thursday morning to treat the elderly woman at or near the site (photo, paramedics on site)
The makeshift homeless camps (pictured) that grew during the Covid pandemic were located in the sand dunes of Dee Why Beach
Paramedics attached to the Male observer the ‘possible overdose/poisoning at Dee Why Parade, Dee Why’ had occurred at 6:40 am with the woman taken to Northern Beaches Hospital.
NSW Ambulance has not confirmed her condition.
The area has been attracting homeless people for the past two years, much to the anger of disgruntled local residents who say the area has turned into a crime zone.
Residents claim they were robbed and threatened as they walked along the beach by those who lived in the makeshift shelters.
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
Others have accused them of watching beachgoers with binoculars before running to the dunes and stealing unattended items while the owners are in the water.
Others claim that the tent town residents dress up as craftsmen to wander through parking garages and check for unlocked vehicle doors.
Dee Why locals say they now fear the beach residents and worry that they will damage the delicate ecosystem of the nearby lagoon.
Tensions escalated on October 3 when images emerged of a fire in the sand dunes and a man with a wild, unkempt beard being chased by police officers near the makeshift camp.
A fire lit at the site of the tent town, (pictured) next to the Dee Why lagoon, forced the municipality to remove the makeshift campsite early this month
A man with a big beard was chased by police officers near the makeshift camp (photo, the aftermath)
The tent town was then torn down the next day by Northern Beaches Council workers “over public safety concerns,” a council spokeswoman said.
The camp residents were told that they could collect their belongings after the belongings had been removed.
“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 earlier this month.
“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.”
The camp residents have reportedly refused help from the municipality to move.
Daily Mail Australia understands that the group 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 now three campsites in the area.
Residents of the former makeshift rough sleeper campsite were told to collect their belongings (above) after the site on Dee Why Beach was cleared
The tent town was then torn down the next day by Northern Beaches Council workers “over public safety concerns,” a council spokeswoman said (pictured, the area was evicted earlier this month)