Maribyrnong council has reversed a decision to charge a homeless woman more than $400 to retrieve her belongings.
The woman had been camping in Footscray’s Newells Paddock in recent weeks, setting up a temporary home in the wetlands reserve.
Council officers warned her she had two weeks to leave or her belongings would be impounded.
Officers returned with police at the end of the fortnight and seized the items, slapping the 30 year old with a $440 fee if she wanted their release.
Council planning services director Nigel Higgins said the council’s general purposes local laws prohibited camping in public areas and parklands.
“In this instance, we believe the isolated location did not provide a safe site and was not in their best interests,” he said.
Mr Higgins said local laws officers had attended the site on a number of occasions to talk with the woman and offer assistance.
“Advice, pamphlets and support contacts were given to the camper, including advice that after a number of warnings … property would be impounded,” he said.
Mr Higgins said the $440 fee, later waived, was standard for collection of impounded goods.
Footscray social worker Les Twentyman said the council waived the fee after he made representations on the woman’s behalf.
He said the council’s initial insistence on collecting the fee was unfortunate, but that it had since worked to help the woman.
“This woman has a complex web of needs and the council has been hunting around to find some local services that can help,” he said.
