Police are warning that any trespassing on an abandoned TAFE site will result in arrests, following an incident last week.
Barricades have been installed at the former Noosa TAFE site at Tewantin after an unauthorised “clean up” of the site on Friday, January 5.
Police attended the site, at 24 Cooroy Noosa Road, to find volunteers from Community Village, a group that claims to have a vision to offer crisis accommodation and services for people facing homelessness.
The group aimed to pressure clean, remove rubbish, sweep and paint outdoor areas to prepare the unused land for temporary accommodation for people in tents, cars, vans and caravans.
However, the state government has labelled the site “totally unsuitable” for accommodation. The group’s efforts have also been met with criticism from a local MP.
Noosa Heads officer in charge Senior Sergeant Anthony Cowan told Sunshine Coast News police attended due to complaints of trespassing.
“We attended on the day and there was some confusion on the day regarding approvals,” he said.
“That’s been clarified now, so if anyone returns they will be charged with trespassing.
“If they go back we will arrest them.”
A spokesperson for the Department of Employment, Small Business and Training (DESBT) confirmed additional safety measures had been implemented to deter trespassers.
“The department authorised additional security measures – namely further securing the boom gate, placing fencing across the entry to provide additional security against forced entry to the site and security to monitor the site, and is continuing to look at options regarding the future security of the site,” they said.
“Public safety is a priority for the department and unauthorised access to the closed Tewantin TAFE campus for the purpose of moving or removing items places unacceptable risk to members of the public.”
Member for Noosa Sandy Bolton said she contacted relevant state government departments after being alerted to a call-out on Facebook from Community Village asking for volunteers.
“They advised they had no knowledge of (it), nor had authorised any group to enter the site, and reiterated again as they had to previous requests over the last five years that the site is totally unsuitable for accommodation due to its safety issues and high fire risk,” Ms Bolton said.
Ms Bolton visited during the clean-up to answer questions from the group about the future of the site.
However, Ms Bolton said the group showed “no interest in any of the facts” and the activity appeared to be a “sovereign claim to the site”.
“Instead, the intent of Friday’s (January 5) activity appears initially to be a sovereign claim to the site, which is in opposition to the recognised Native Title claimants and processes used under Australian law,” she said.
“This is a matter for government to investigate.”
The Community Village website states that the TAFE site “is land of the sovereign Kabi Kabi Peoples, and as ‘traditional owners’ have exercised their rights in accordance with the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (13 Sept, 2007) and Aboriginal Grandmothers Lore”.
Ms Bolton said the state government had advised the group that unlawful activities would not be tolerated.
The decommissioned TAFE site closed in 2014, and in 2018 Noosa Council made an offer to purchase the site.
However, in 2020 the council announced it would withdraw its application “due to the impacts of COVID-19”, with an expression of interest process for the site commencing instead.
The EOI process was finalised in 2022, however the announcement regarding the outcome was delayed due to Federal Court Native Title processes.
It is understood there were five shortlisted submitters and that, in the past, independent schools and training colleges had contacted council to express interest in the site.
Ms Bolton said she opposed “any further delays to this site being reinvigorated for the benefit of our community”.
“(I) have asked state government to find a way for the successful proponents to be allowed to commence community consultation and stabilising works prior to the completion of the Native Title determinations,” she said.
The DESBT spokesperson said the Queensland Government was committed to reactivating the former Tewantin TAFE to be used for the benefit of the Tewantin-Noosa community.
“The local community has been consulted to identify the best community-aligned proposals for the site, and as of January 2024, negotiations with a preferred proponent are ongoing,” the spokesperson said.
“The Queensland Government also respects the legal Native Title process that is well underway for this area.
“The Department of Employment, Small Business and Training will continue to maintain the former Tewantin TAFE site while this process is finalised.”
Community Village has been contacted for comment.
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