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On Wednesday, Rockingham police and Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions (DBCA) officials gave 50 rough sleepers on Memorial Drive a 24-hour notice to vacate. By Thursday morning, most had left or were packing up; one person was charged with trespassing. Two dozen officers removed materials from camp sites while offering support services. Homelessness Minister Matthew Swinbourn stated that almost everyone accepted offers of accommodation and support, noting ongoing outreach efforts for months prior to the operation.
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.
One person was charged in a lowkey police operation to move on the remaining rough sleepers on the street on Memorial Drive in Rockingham.
asserted
person → charge → Rockingham
On Wednesday, the remaining 50 or so rough sleepers on Memorial Drive 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.
WA Police said Rockingham Police had charged a 35-year-old man with trespass and would appear in court on October 9.
asserted
Police → move → October
One motorhome was towed and put into storage while two vehicles were towed, one of which was abandoned, and the other one had been put into storage.
asserted
one → tow → storage
Homelessness Minister Matthew Swinbourn said everyone still there on Memorial Drive on Thursday morning were directed to support services in the area, and almost all people had now accepted support and accommodation offers.
asserted
people → say → offers
“All those who were on Memorial Drive site have now left, and no camping signage has been installed,” he said.
asserted
he → leave → site
“We have taken a compassionate approach from the start of this, and for several months, outreach services have been down at Memorial Drive five days a week, providing access to housing, healthcare, and other support.
asserted
services → take → housing
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 DBCA would make the site less accessible to vehicles with fencing, so people can’t park on Memorial Drive’s verges.
asserted
people → say → verges
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
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