Project background

We proposed a change to the Community Amenity Local Law. This change would give us clearer instructions on how to respond to camps on Council land when they affect the community’s safety, wellbeing, or enjoyment of the area.

The amendment and its associated procedure guide laid out a pathway of actions for our staff to take to help support the people living within these encampments while maintaining public amenity. These actions included connecting people with existing supports, offering assistance on site and exploring non‑punitive options wherever possible.

If required, the amendment would also allow authorised Council staff members to remove equipment from these encampments as a last resort after all other options have been tried.

In March 2026, we invited community members to read the draft amendment and share your views. Your feedback helped inform whether we go ahead with the proposed changes.

What did we ask?

As part of this engagement, we asked people:

• Do you support the proposed Community Amenity Amendment Local Law 2026?
• Please provide any comments you have on the proposed Local Law amendment.

What did we hear?

Respondents were asked if they support the proposed Community Amenity Amendment Local Law 2026.

76.1% (539 respondents) said that they oppose the amendment.

• 72.6% (514 respondents) strongly opposed.
• 3.5% (25 respondents) opposed.

23.2% (164 respondents) said that they support the amendment.

• 21.2% (150 respondents) strongly supportive.
• 2.0% (14 respondents) supportive.

A further 0.7% (5 respondents) said that they neither support nor oppose the amendment.

Key themes

Some of the themes people raised within their submissions included:

• Homelessness and structural drivers: A theme across submissions was the recognition that homelessness is driven by structural and systemic factors, including housing affordability, rising cost of living, limited availability of social housing, family violence and complex social needs
• Strong opposition from service providers and advocacy organisations: There was consistent opposition from the community services sector including homelessness, health, and legal organisations.
• Confiscation of belongings and survival items: Respondents highlighted that such items are essential for survival, including shelter and warmth. They also stated these items often include personal belongings, identification and medication.
• Human rights and legal considerations: Respondents raised concerns regarding human rights and legal compliance including compatibility with the Victorian Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities.
• Displacement rather than resolution: Respondents said that the amendment would displace people experiencing homelessness rather than address underlying causes.
• Safety and amenity concerns: Some respondents discussed feeling unsafe in public spaces and raised concerns about anti-social behaviour, drug use, waste and cleanliness.
• Balancing amenity and social responsibility: This theme emerged across responses, reflecting both safety concerns and strong support for compassionate, service-led approaches
• Alignment with Council strategies and values: Some respondents raised concerns that the proposed amendment is inconsistent with Council’s existing policy framework.
• Support for evidence-based alternatives: Support for evidence-based, service-led alternatives was raised by approximately half of the respondents.

To learn more about what we heard, you can read the complete engagement report below:

What happened next?

The engagement results were presented alongside the proposed amendment at the Council Meeting on Wednesday 6 May 2026 to help inform Council’s decision on whether the amendment should be adopted. Prior to its presentation to Council, the Local Law amendment was certified by an independent Australian solicitor in line with the requirements of the Local Government Act 2020.

At the meeting on Wednesday 6 May, Council resolved to proceed with the amendment to the Local Law. You can read the agenda and minutes for this meeting using this link.

With its adoption, the amendment will be published in the Government Gazette and on our website, followed by a final public notice advising when the amendment will come into operation. The amendment is scheduled to come into operation on Monday 1 June 2026.