Dee Why tent city goes up in flames: Police arrest two men amidst homeless feuding

A ‘tent city’ in an affluent Sydney suburb has been disbanded after an incident involving “violence and fire” over the long weekend proved to be the straw that broke the camel’s back.

Two homeless men were arrested on Monday after a tent at a makeshift Northern Beaches camp was allegedly set ablaze.

While the shanty settlement had been set up in the dunes of Dee Why for some years now, Northern Beaches Council today confirmed the camp was being pulled down.

“A violent incident and fire in the dunes at Dee Why this weekend has left Council, with the assistance of NSW Police, with little other option but to disband the camp and remove the growing accumulation of rubbish and other materials which are posing an ongoing fire and safety risk,” Northern Beaches Council CEO Ray Brownlee told news.com.au.

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The chaos on Monday, which also saw a police officer allegedly kicked in the head, began about 4.30pm when authorities were called to a tent alight in the Dee Why sand dunes.

“Police were also told a man, allegedly armed with a machete and a gas lighter, had been seen chasing another man towards the carpark about the same time,” a NSW Police spokesman said.

Shortly after arriving on scene, officers from Northern Beaches command were allegedly assaulted while trying to arrest a 35-year-old man at a nearby service station.

The man was pepper sprayed after allegedly kicking a police officer in the head.

He was then taken to was taken to Manly Police Station where he has been charged with damage property by fire, use offensive weapon with intent to commit indictable offence, assault police, and resist, hinder police.

A second man, 43, was arrested nearby and charged with one count each of assault police and intimidate police.

A search of the area allegedly uncovered a machete and a butane gas lighter which have been taken for forensic analysis.

The men, both Dee Why locals, were refused bail to face Manly Local Court on Monday.

A local who witnessed the incident and one of the arrests described “black smoke” and an “explosion” as the tent was allegedly set ablaze.

“So, I go for a walk between Dee Why Beach and the lagoon and discover shanty homes hidden in the bushes,” the local posted online.

“As I was walking back home, I could see black smoke and explosions from one shanty home.

“(I) went in to have a look and was confronted by one very stirred-up guy, got the hell out of there and phoned the fireys.

“Got back to the carpark to find a massive knife and torch thrower, called the cops. Dee Why is usually quite peaceful,” he concluded on the post which has since been taken down.

Locals split over dune dwellings

Despite the presence of homelessness in their community, locals have largely empathised with those sleeping rough in the sand dune ‘tent city’.

Hundreds flooded a local Facebook forum to share their thoughts after the incident.

While a few aired their frustrations with the alleged arson attack and the ‘tent city’ more broadly, the majority believed it was a symptom of the economic climate.

“I really hope the community helps this poor man get back on his feet, clearly in a tough position,” one person wrote.

“Poor buggers are having a hard enough life as it is without nosy people poking around,” wrote another.

“They have no where else to go. They can’t afford rent and some are mentally incapable of working,” another wrote on a separate forum.

A local barista, Ewan Lund, previously told the Daily Mail the residents of the makeshift campsite kept to themselves for the most part.

“We know they’re there, but you can’t see them or the tents from the pathway,” he said.

“One time we had a guy come in and ask for money, but otherwise you never see them.”

Another anonymous local previously told northern beaches publication, the Manly Observer, the homeless were mostly unseen but there had been reports of issues.

“Almost no one knows that they’re there unless they’ve had issues with them. There has been council and police going there but they can’t do anything and I think they prefer to have them contained there so they’re not causing issues anywhere else,’ the resident was reported saying.

“Two ladies you see before sunrise rain or shine walk up and down Dee Why Beach collect every piece of rubbish. They do it out of love for the area.

“Apparently they came out of the camp and threatened the two ladies to go away for getting too close.”

The bush dwellings were in stark contrast to the homes of the multimillion suburb of Dee Why, nestled among some of the most expensive localities in the country – including Manly and Palm Beach.

With a median house price of $2.8 million, Dee Why also hosts a slim vacancy rate at just 1.7 per cent and median rental prices of $925 per week for a home, $865 for a townhouse and $585 for a unit.

The Northern Beaches Council, which is responsible for the area, has previously stated it was aware of the dwellings but had not considering moving the residents on.

“We have been working with relevant homeless support agencies in a continual effort to provide assistance to those living in the dunes at Dee Why for a number of years now,” Mr Brownlee said.

“Homelessness is a complex issue and we have sought to approach those involved with understanding and compassion.

“Council is continuing to facilitate assistance to those impacted through welfare and housing agencies and communicate support options available to them.”

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News.com.au understand while the council has some positive outcomes previous residents of the camp, the current residents had repeatedly rejected offers of support.

Possessions removed from the site will be secured and available for collection by their owners.

More to this story? Email jack.evans@news.com.au

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