Itinerant people camped around Mount Isa’s riverbed is not a new problem, but for some residents of the city it is having serious financial consequences.
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For over 10 years Julie and Ron Watson own a property which backs on to the Leichhardt River so they have has plenty of experience with riverbed dwellers from the Northern Territory to attend the Mount Isa Rodeo or to beat strict NT grog laws.
As Julie Watson told the North West Star in a letter earlier this year, that means putting up with “constant vulgar language, continuous yelling, screaming and fighting, garbage strewn everywhere, having them enter our property and steal our possessions and having our children, friends and family witness them urinating, defecating, vomiting and fornicating in the river behind our property in full view for years”.
“Dwellers have continuously trespassed on our property to take back hoses down into the river so they have access to water and the water is left running until we return to our property and notice what is happening,” Ms Watson said.
“We have called the police numerous times, however, have been told there is little they can do and there is no point trying to press any charges as they would not result in any outcome.”
Ms Watson said they had previously been issued with excess water charges for the same thing but have copped it on the chin and paid the bill.
“We have tried several things as deterrents - locking our back gate, having a free roaming dog, taking the hose away, however, have had limited success as they still manage to access the water,” she said.
But with the recent changes to move water rates to consumption based charges, they now say they have had enough.
Ms Watson said they won’t pay “to supply the riverbed dwellers with water”.
“Council has advised all residents that this is a ‘user pays' system - in that case please forward the bill to the users who are the people residing in the riverbed,” she said.
Mount Isa Mayor Joyce McCulloch said council was sympathetic but could not waive water charges.
“It is unfortunate that people are suffering from crimes committed by others, but unfortunately, without proof, in terms of water fees, this is not something that Council is able to waive,” Cr McCulloch said.
“Where people believe the excess water use may be due to itinerants, or people unlawfully on their property, they will need to take it up with police.”
Camping in the river bed is illegal under Mount Isa City Council local by-laws but Mount Isa officer in charge Sen Sgt Renee Hanrahan said police have no authority under that legislation.
“The offence of camping is enforceable by the Council local laws officers only, that is why we work in partnership with Council to address the issue,” Sen Sgt Hanrahan said.
She said police deal with the offence of consuming liquor in public, and Council can move them on.
“We recently conducted an operation within the riverbed in partnership with Council, which saw preliminary saturated messaging provided to all persons located,” she said.
“Occupants were advised the following Wednesday Council would be conducting a clean-up and removing all camping equipment, mattresses, abandoned vehicles, etc. and to vacate prior to.”
Sen Sgt Hanrahan said they work closely with the Arthur Peterson Diversionary Centre and provide referrals to Jimaylya Topsy Harry as the designated safe accommodation and drinking place for itinerant persons.
“QPS Mount Isa are working with local non-government and government agencies, as well as Council, State (both Qld and NT) and Federal government around longer term solutions to the many causal factors resulting in itinerant persons living in the riverbed,” she said.
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Derek Barry
Editor of the North West Star Mount Isa since January 2016. Prior to that, an editor at several regional southern Queensland newspapers. Passionate about telling local stories. Comes with a strange accent to due an Irish accident of birth.
Editor of the North West Star Mount Isa since January 2016. Prior to that, an editor at several regional southern Queensland newspapers. Passionate about telling local stories. Comes with a strange accent to due an Irish accident of birth.
