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Video circulating online showed a man projectile vomiting in his makeshift camp at HJ Sternbeck Park on the city’s main street. The park had become cluttered with a tent, furniture and other debris. “Can lounge around in ya camp in the main street all day, doing drugs, drinking alcohol, spewing, pissing and s***ting in public. What a town we live in,” the caption said. The footage inspired fiery commentary from hundreds of residents, with some condemning it as “disgusting” and a “disgrace,” while others expressed sympathy for the camp’s occupants. HJ Sternbeck Park is Telstra land, and the telco has requested help from both Cessnock City Council and police to clean it up. Federal Labor MP for Hunter, Dan Repacholi, said earlier this month he had approached the homeless group and offered them “access to government services such as housing, health and social support,” but they refused. On Friday, Mr Repacholi announced that council rangers had given rough sleepers until midday on Monday to move on. “From Tuesday 28 October, Council will start maintenance works (approved by Telstra) and the entire site will be fenced off indefinitely for safety reasons,” the MP said. “There’ll be no public access while this work is carried out. “If the site is still occupied on Tuesday morning, Hunter Valley Police District will assist council to remove the remaining campers so repairs can proceed safely.” Mr Repacholi said signage would go up stating the site was private property and trespassing was prohibited. Council was also looking at installing extra lighting. “The fencing will stay up for at least three months to discourage further camping and to give Telstra and Council time to sort out the long-term management of the park.” Not everyone was happy with the Council’s plan, however. “The problem isn’t really being addressed, just moved,” one resident wrote in response. “Gotta ask yourself why they’re in that situation in the first place? This government is destroying the country. Where are they going after this?” another asked. Aussie town at war over ‘ferals’ Cessnock is not the only regional centre grappling with rough sleepers and anti-social behaviour. Bundaberg Mayor Helen Blackburn caused a stir when she announced she wanted to make her CBD “feral free” earlier this month, as part of a campaign to clean up the town. Locals agreed the city did not feel safe as it was overrun by “screaming” addicts. Kerrin Richardson, who runs the bakery Hot Bread Fred in neighbouring Gin Gin, said she had to be cautious when travelling into Bundaberg CBD to run errands. “I think the mayor using the word feral probably isn’t super professional, but yes, it absolutely needs to be cleaned up,” Ms Richardson told news.com.au. “The majority of people will only go to the CBD if absolutely necessary. If my husband and I go to the CBD and he’s just running in by himself, I will lock the doors if there’s a junkie screaming match nearby – or if someone is just screaming at anything that moves and they’re headed in my direction.” She added, “I’ve taught my kids not to make eye contact with anyone.” Businesses, including banks and a tattoo studio, were gradually moving out of the CBD, leaving empty shopfronts. “It’s basically a skeleton of what it used to be. It’s sad,” Ms Richardson said. Australia’s worst train station Homelessness is becoming more visible in state capitals as well. In Sydney, the car park for Warwick Farm Station in the western suburbs became overwhelmed with an astonishing amount of debris earlier this year. News.com.au spoke to homeless people in the car park who said up to 15 people slept there each night. One man said he relied on Centrelink payments and food from the Salvation Army to get by and he struggling with ice and marijuana addiction. In NSW, the state’s annual street count found 2,192 people sleeping rough in 2025 – an 8 per cent increase compared to 2024. More than 120,000 people were experiencing homelessness in Australia at the time of the 2021 census.
