The City of Moreton Bay has agreed to close its temporary homeless camping site at Wyllie Park in Petrie following intervention by the Queensland Government.
The decision was confirmed during a council meeting on Thursday, 12 November, after Economic Development Queensland (EDQ) issued a show cause notice over the operation of the campsite.
Under the agreement, the council will stop accepting new registrations, require existing campers to leave once their registrations expire, and remove temporary facilities after the site is vacated.
The closure will affect people experiencing homelessness who have been using the park as temporary accommodation.
EDQ raised concerns about the site's operation because Wyllie Park falls within the Moreton Bay Central Priority Development Area.
The state agency has agreed not to pursue further enforcement action provided the council complies with its requirements. However, the existing show cause notice will remain in place until the campsite is vacant.
Moreton Bay Mayor Peter Flannery said the council would comply with the conditions rather than risk an expensive legal dispute.
"The fact is that we could spend millions of dollars of ratepayer funds fighting this Show Cause in court only to lose anyway," said Cr Peter Flannery, Mayor of the City of Moreton Bay.
The mayor said the camping trial had been introduced as a temporary response to homelessness in the region, particularly in public areas such as the Redcliffe foreshore.
Council maintains the initiative provided a safer alternative for people without access to emergency or supported accommodation.
Meanwhile, Deputy Mayor Jodie Shipway has held discussions with senior Department of Housing officials about potential shelter networks across Moreton Bay.
"We are also pleased to see that the Minister for Housing has committed to considering proposals for emergency/shelter accommodation," said Cr Jodie Shipway, Deputy Mayor of the City of Moreton Bay.
The council says it will continue working with the Queensland Government to address homelessness while maintaining compliance and public space clean-up programs.
A final closure date has not yet been announced, with existing campers expected to remain until their registration periods expire.
Background
The Wyllie Park camping trial began in August 2026 as a designated location for people experiencing homelessness in Moreton Bay.
The initiative was intended to provide temporary camping arrangements while broader housing and accommodation challenges continued across the region.
However, the site's location within a Priority Development Area prompted intervention from Economic Development Queensland, which questioned whether the camping arrangements complied with planning requirements.
The council has since agreed to end the trial under the conditions outlined by the state agency.
Discussions between local and state authorities about future emergency accommodation options are continuing.