That is 0 articles you have read today.
The Aporia is free and carries no advertising, so readers are the only
thing paying for it. If you are getting this much out of it, a small
donation is what keeps it independent.
Daily limit reached
You have read 0 articles today.
That is more than the 15 a day The Aporia gives away,
and well past what it can carry on nothing. Your allowance resets at
midnight.
There is no advertising here and nothing about you is sold, so readers
are the only thing paying for it. If the site is worth this much of
your day, it is worth a few dollars.
Everything else stays open: the
maps, the
directory and
search do
not count against this, and neither does re-opening something you have
already read today.
On Memorial Drive in Rockingham, contractors and police are removing abandoned camping materials and moving rough sleepers from their sites after a 24-hour notice was given on Wednesday. As of Thursday morning, about 10 to 15 camps remained out of the original 50. The operation involves around two dozen police and DBCA officers who are assisting the homeless in finding alternative accommodations while logging and storing personal items for later collection if needed. Homelessness Minister Matthew Swinbourn emphasized the government's attempt to address issues with compassion but stated that further action was necessary due to safety concerns.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-09-24,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
Memorial Drive in Rockingham, Perth's south, has been the site of a significant homeless encampment since hundreds of people set up tents along its grassy verges due to lack of housing options. The Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions (DBCA) gave campers until September 22 to vacate, leading many to leave but leaving about 50 still in place by Tuesday night. Homelessness Minister Matthew Swinbourn reported that around half were willing to move while another 16 people had refused help or accommodation offers.
On Wednesday morning, police and DBCA officers arrived at the site, informing remaining campers they had 24 hours to clear out before facing forced eviction. Most agreed to pack up their belongings. By Thursday, contractors started disposing of abandoned camping materials and rubbish from the area as 10-15 campsites still remained. A black Ford Falcon performed a burnout near Memorial Drive during these operations.
Rockingham Police charged a 35-year-old man with trespassing in connection with the event; he will appear in court on October 9. The government claims it has been providing resources and support services for those affected by the closure.
Written for “Memorial Drive Evictions” on 2026-10-05,
grounded in this article and the 3 other(s) covering the same event.
Contractors have disposed of abandoned camping materials on Memorial Drive in Rockingham as a police operation began to move on the remaining rough sleepers on the street.
asserted
operation → dispose → street
On Wednesday, the remaining 50 or so rough sleepers were given 24 hours to vacate the area, where some have been camping for months.
asserted
some → remain → months
Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions contractors began removing materials and rubbish left at camp sites along the verge and in the bush.
asserted
Department → begin → bush
About two dozen police and DBCA officers began speaking to the remaining campers around 10.30am to advise them they would be moved on, which was met with general acceptance from most rough sleepers this masthead witnessed.
asserted
masthead → begin → sleepers
Most had either packed up their belongings or were in the process of packing up.
asserted
Most → pack → process
As police and DBCA officers moved down the road, followed closely by assembled media, a black Ford Falcon did a burnout on the corner of Memorial Drive and Safety Bay Road.
On Wednesday, Homelessness Minister Matthew Swinbourn said about 16 rough sleepers had refused support.
asserted
sleepers → move → support
He said authorities had approached the issues on Memorial Drive with compassion from the beginning, when more rough sleepers started moving onto the road earlier this year.
asserted
sleepers → say → road
“We recognise that many people experiencing homelessness face complex challenges, and our focus has always been on helping people access safer and more stable long-term living arrangements,” he said.
asserted
he → recognise → arrangements
“However, the growing and changing encampment at Memorial Drive cannot be allowed to continue for the safety of the people who have been rough sleeping there, and for the surrounding community as well.”
asserted
who → grow → community
Swinbourn said offers of support and transitional accommodation remained in place.
asserted
offers → say → place
“But ultimately, we’ve reached the pinch point now where the more formalised actions to clear the site need to be taken,” he said.
asserted
he → reach → site
“I want to be really clear: it has been months of outreach services that have been working with them to try and get them on a pathway to a different alternative to Memorial Drive.”
asserted
that → want → Drive
Swinbourn said what remained on site would be logged and then securely stored, and people would be able to make arrangements with DBCA to collect their possessions at a later date.
asserted
people → say → date
“So we won’t be destroying unless it is clearly rubbish,” he said.
asserted
he → destroy → ?
Homelessness advocate and moderator of the Homeless Perth Facebook page Nicky, who asked her last name not be used, was packing down abandoned camping equipment in good condition so it could be donated to other homeless people.
uncertain
it → ask → people
She said the size of the response from police was intimidating to the remaining rough sleepers.
asserted
size → say → sleepers
“They’re all scared.
asserted
They → ’re → ?
They’re intimidated.
asserted
They → ’re → ?
They don’t know where to go,” she said.
asserted
she → know → ?
Nicky said the government needed to open up disused caravan parks or utilise the Bullsbrook quarantine facility – an idea which has been emphatically rejected by the government because it is not close to services.
asserted
it → say → services
“[The quarantine facility] is going to get turned into a jail because that’s so important,” she said.
asserted
she → go → jail
“But don’t worry about the 79-year-old lady that’s got cancer.
asserted
that → worry → cancer
“She’ll be fine in her little motor home and travelling everywhere, not knowing where to go.”
asserted
She → travel → home
The Aporia
