Residents and tourists are furious after hot water was cut off from public showers at a popular beach.
Cambridge City Council, in Perth’s west, announced the decision two days before hot water was cut at City Beach on Monday.
The unpopular decision was an attempt to discourage visitors from camping overnight illegally without a permit and leaving trash on the beach.
A post on the council’s Facebook page said it had been trying to combat the problem with daily rubbish collections, extra bins, checking CCTV and regular monitoring.
But the justification has sparked community outrage, amid claims from locals that they were not consulted and are now calling for the decision to be overturned.
‘I am both disappointed and dismayed by this decision; “Families, taxpayers, community groups and beachgoers use these showers,” fumed one resident.
‘They are punishing all the people peacefully enjoying the city beach in an attempt to deter some campers.
‘Please indicate how the community was consulted about this decision and how it can be appealed.’
Cambridge City Council has cut hot water to public showers at Perth City Beach (pictured) to combat overnight campers
Another said the change was one of the reasons they “deplore” the council.
“I swim year-round in the ocean at City Beach and the thought of a hot shower after swimming in the winter is something I look forward to as well,” they wrote.
A third commented: “Making life as hard and uncomfortable as possible for those who have nowhere to sleep but their vans and cars.”
“Young budget travelers and the poor are an eyesore to the bourgeois aesthetic sensibilities of their taxpayers.”
Others noted that the ban will make it harder for homeless people to find a place to wash.
Locals claim they were not consulted about the council’s decision to cut hot water (file image)
“If there is a problem with homelessness, maybe we provide state-funded housing and ‘support,'” another local wrote.
“Just basic help organizing things for those who really need it; they don’t have to be 6-bedroom mansions and they don’t have to have ocean views.”
Acting City of Cambridge CEO Kelton Hicks said the move “aims to keep City Beach clean and safe for all beachgoers.”
“This was an administrative decision made to address the issue of illegal camping at City Beach,” he told Yahoo.
Daily Mail Australia has contacted Cambridge City Council for further comment.
