The main transport hub for the city of Sydney is Central Railway station - and right next to that is Belmore park - which at night has become this city's " No-Go " area. It is fast developing as a " Favella " because the homeless have congregated there and have collected sheets of iron, old cardboard and plastic sheeting to construct " shelters " to protect them from wind and rain.
This new " Skid Row " breaks dozens of ordinance laws but Sydney Council is squeamish about sending in it's workers to start demolition, and the police will only act when drunken brawls and drug taking erupt onto nearby streets. Nobody wants to have their picture in the news depriving the poor and homeless of this city of what amounts to " survival " shelter.
It seems that the council is stuck between a rock and a hard place. If they do nothing it is certain that Belmore park will continue to attract residents and eventually bricks and mortar will replace cardboard and canvas and the park will morph into a permanent Favella - which will become impossible to remove. There is a lesson to be learned from cities like Rio where Favellas have spread out of control and encompassed whole suburbs - and gangs have formed to fight any move to exercise control.
Unfortunately, the " squatters " in Belmore park are the usual mix of those down on their luck and a smattering of alcoholics and drug users. Many use the park as their toilet while the more considerate opt for the facilities at Central rail station, but this Favella is not a pretty sight and at night it is a place others would visit - at their peril !
It seems that the council has adopted a strategy that involves private security guards and this is costing the public purse three thousand dollars a day. They are doing what neither the police or the regular council work force is prepared to do, and they are working hand in hand with the state government.
As low cost emergency housing is found for Belmore park residents this security force urges them to move and immediately destroys their vacant shelter and trucks away it's components. At the same time - while they otherwise ignore those already in residence - they place obstacles in the way of newcomers trying to setup in the park. Those trying to enter the park with the means to construct a shelter are turned away, using whatever means are necessary.
This is a costly - but effective - way of limiting a stain on the beautiful city of Sydney. It was the shame of a Favella operating right where the main train terminal disgorges hundreds of thousands on their way to and from work each day that hit home to city leaders. This was an eyesore that could not be ignored and yet any attempt at open eviction would surely hurl it into the political arena and start the inevitable game of finger pointing.
Sadly, the dispossessed are with us in great numbers which are not so obviously in open sight. The number of people sleeping rough under overpasses, finding shelter in seaside parks and in the cliff overhangs that line our beautiful harbour are often long term and have made a home of materials discarded by the people of Sydney.
It seems they are free to do so, just so long as they stay out of sight. The fate of what happens at Belmore park has yet to be decided, but it seems evident that money is no object when maintaining the image we present to tourists !
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