This is a response of love from the vulnerable community on your doorstep…
Our community of van dwellers doesn’t ask for much, yet we do ask for kindness and equal treatment. We ask to not be harassed and discriminated against for choosing an alternative lifestyle. A lifestyle we believe puts us in a deeper connection with nature. A lifestyle that opts out of consumer culture. One that lives more simply with less of an environmental impact.
We feel that the article published in The Echo has encouraged our beautiful neighbourhood residents to have a negative view on the homeless residing in Brunswick Heads. We believe these views to be unfounded and sensationalised to make a ‘good story’. This article has done nothing but create more division in a time when unity is paramount. Everybody is feeling the pressure one way or another.
The accusations of defecating, loud parties, dealing drugs, swearing and spitting at local residents in last weeks’ article are an inaccurate representation of the wider community residing here. In relation to the illegal camping on South Beach Lane, the community would like to confirm that vehicles do not reside here overnight, as per the rules. There may always be a small number of people who disregard the rules, but this is true across all sectors of society.
We may live in vans, yet we are still part of the community. Van campers support a number of local businesses, both economically and by working for them. The majority of us are respectful of noise and parking time limitations. We even tend to the gardens in the park, and have planted food forests for community sharing, even though some of these seem to have been ripped out recently.
Over the past weeks, van campers have been subjected to unauthorised photos and videos being taken of us and our vehicles. We have endured abuse while trying to peacefully cook a meal. Members of the community have even endured physical attacks. Such actions are inexcusable; our van community has never engaged in any of these activities against local people. We respect people’s life choices. And we expect that we be afforded the same courtesy.
It would be nice to imagine a community where everyone respects and helps one another, regardless of lifestyle choice and demographic. The proposed $250,000 spend on new compliance officers would be better invested into helping those in the community who need it. An increased presence of officers is likely to create further stress for those already in a vulnerable state of mind.
We’re keen to work towards a solution that actually galvanises the community. One based on common unity, instead of band-aid services that keep the homeless as a resource for government revenue. We’re people, not objects of profit.
People experiencing homelessness deserve more love, not less. They deserve the opportunity to explore their creativity and lifestyle preferences without being scared and unfairly monitored. We’re not holding all night raves. We’re performing actions that are necessary for survival, and these shouldn’t place us in breach of the law. We choose to live under universal lore, where we cause no harm, damage, injury or trespass against another. Where we don’t breach the peace. Where we play music and share food with whoever might be hungry. Where we create community, and invite everyone to join us in this experience.
For four decades The Echo has printed the stories some people loved, some people hated, and some pretended not to read. If you want us to keep telling the truth, the real truth, not the sugar-coated version. We’ll need your support to keep the presses rolling. 
