Mayor blasts living conditions at bush camp Posted Tue Mar 25, 2008 Community leaders in Kalgoorlie say government neglect is responsible for the poor and dangerous living conditions in the Boulder bush camp where a woman's body was discovered at the weekend. Kalgoorlie detectives are still investigating the death of the 24-year-old Aboriginal woman who had travelled to Kalgoorlie-Boulder from her Coonana community 200 kilometres away. Two men have been charged with assaulting her. The Kalgoorlie-Boulder Mayor Ron Yuryevich says the living conditions of the Boulder camp, where itinerants sleep on the ground and under makeshift shelters, makes the community susceptible to abuse and violence. Mr Yuryevich says the State and Federal Governments' failure to address Indigenous housing has led to the poverty-stricken environment of the Boulder bush camp. See also - 'Foul Coons/Falcon' slogan just a joke? _______________________________________________________________________________
He says the council created the bush camp, where it provides hot water, showers and firewood, in an effort to stop itinerants sleeping rough on Boulder's main street. The mayor says it was only ever meant to be a temporary measure. "It is very frustrating that we have had this happen in around what we call zone six, simply because we have tried to get the State and Federal Governments to fund appropriate accommodation for people coming in off the lands," he said. Kalgoorlie police records show they dealt with 27 serious incidents at the camp last year involving weapons, assaults and drunkenness. In 2006 a woman had to be twice revived at the camp after being repeatedly bashed over the head. Police say in reality they would attend the camp much more often than 27 times a year but because of the way job sheets are written up only the serious incidents are recorded. Police have been called to five incidents at the campsite so far this year. The Minister for Indigenous Affairs and Housing, Michelle Roberts, has been contacted for comment.
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