For more than two years, residents and park users have been dealing with illegal camping in Cascade Gardens.

From people living in tents in open areas of the park and surrounding bushland, to vehicles parked in car parks for weeks at a time, residents and park users have been subjected to ongoing antisocial and criminal behaviour.

This has included violent arguments, drug use, physical altercations, verbal abuse, and public sexual activity — all occurring in close proximity to homes and a children’s playground.

The amount of waste that has been removed from the parkland is disgraceful. No matter the circumstances, it isn’t acceptable that our park is treated this way.

We request Gold Coast Council to:

• Commence action to connect homeless persons with outreach services when first reported. When camps are left for months, the camps grow and people become settled making it harder to provide assistance.
• Fine illegal campers sleeping in vehicles. Sleeping in vehicles isn’t homelessness — it’s illegal camping. The fine is $806,issuing fines is the only way to stop  people from using our park as a place to live. 
• Increase the patrols of parking officers to address ongoing long-term parking, specifically vehicles parking for 8+ hours at a time.

Please sign this petition to stand up for your right to feel safe and enjoy Cascade Gardens, and to protect the wildlife and environment.