To the Mayor and Councillors of Toowoomba Regional Council,

We, the undersigned residents and supporters of the Toowoomba region, are calling on council to urgently review local laws and enforcement relating to people living in caravans on private property.

Queensland is currently facing a severe housing crisis. Many individuals and families are living in caravans not by choice, but because rental prices, low vacancy rates, and the shortage of affordable housing have left them with no other safe option.

People should not be threatened with fines or forced out of temporary shelter arrangements when they are simply trying to survive and remain connected to their families, work, schools, and community.

We respectfully ask council to:

Allow temporary caravan living on private property during the housing crisis

Introduce compassionate exemptions and permit pathways

Pause enforcement action against people who are not causing safety or nuisance issues

Work with the community to create practical and humane housing solutions

This petition is not about avoiding rules. It is about recognising the reality many local people are currently facing and responding with compassion and common sense.

This issue is also deeply personal for me. I broke my leg in December and have been on a long and difficult road to recovery ever since. Five months later, there are still no signs of the bone fusing together properly, and there is a strong possibility I will need another surgery in around five weeks’ time.

At the moment, I am partly handicapped and cannot walk properly without the aid of crutches. Like many others facing health challenges and financial stress during the housing crisis, stability and safe temporary accommodation are incredibly important.

Situations like mine show why councils need to approach temporary caravan living with compassion, understanding, and practical solutions rather than punishment.

Several Queensland councils have adjusted their caravan occupancy rules due to the housing crisis. For example, Lockyer Valley Regional Council now allows a family member or friend to live in a caravan on a property for up to six months in a 12-month period without prior approval. In contrast, the City of Moreton Bay Council took a stricter approach, repealing a camping framework and making it illegal to sleep in vehicles on public land. These examples show that some councils are being flexible, while others are cracking down.

We ask council to stand with the community during this difficult time.