‘Cruel, flawed decision’: Council shuts off hot water at beach showers due to illegal campers

A Perth council which oversees an expensive seaside area and one of the state’s many idyllic beaches has shut off hot water at the public showers because of illegal campers.

The general public has taken the decision about as well as a cold shower after a winter’s swim, with one social media commenter labelling the move “a very cruel, very flawed decision”.

“Make life as hard and uncomfortable as possible for those who have nowhere to sleep but their vans and cars,” one man commented.

“Young budget travellers and the poor are such an eyesore for the bourgeois aesthetic sensibilities of your ratepayers.”

The Town of Cambridge is the council behind the decision that is being met with a tepid response.

The council covers the suburbs of City Beach, Floreat, Wembley and West Leederville, where median house prices range from $2.75 million to $1.4 million.

Like most of the West Australian coast, the shoreline at City Beach features expanses of pearl-coloured sands, large grassed areas, lots of parking and, in this case, a number of busy restaurants.

But the council says it has to shut off the hot water because people are camping illegally.

The warm water was flicked off on Monday, September 30.

“Illegal camping has resulted in increased rubbish in bins, litter and greater use of public facilities, including showers and toilets,” the council said in a statement.

The council had also begun sending more rangers to the area to monitor any rule breakers, reviewed CCTV more often, made rubbish collections daily and ahead of summer 660-litre bins will be rolled out.

“I swim year round in the ocean at city beach and the thought of a warm shower after a winter swim is something that I thoroughly look forward to,” one woman commented on the council’s post.

“That’s an over reaction and nasty! Plenty of locals enjoy a hot shower and no harm being done,” another person said.

One local claimed the council was “punishing all the people” who enjoy the beach peacefully in order to deter “a few campers”.

“Please advise how the community was consulted in this decision, and how it may be appealed,” they wrote.

Many people said they would be happy for their rates to be put toward helping the homeless.

“Thankyou for your community consultation and considered decision making...NOT... is it really that much of an inconvenience?” another said.

“More than happy for my rates to be used to support the homeless in our area.”