Updated ,first published
More than a dozen police were called and people arrested when a community park in Brisbane’s south was cordoned off on Monday, with at least one protester spending the night in a tree as the state government prepared to sell the land for housing.
Kurilpa Commons is a group on the corner of Boundary and Dudley streets, near the border of the West End and Highgate Hill, where a variety of fruit and vegetables are grown by volunteers. It was established during the COVID pandemic on government-owned land, and is also used for community events.
Government representatives and contractors arrived at the site around 7am on Monday to put up a strong fence and put up signs announcing that the land would be transferred to Economic Development Queensland ahead of a possible sale.
Protesters arrived moments later, as the scene was heated and PSRT Police teams were called. At least six people were arrested for trespassing after trying to plant trees in the park.
Two people remained on the trees until evening, with about 20 people outside the fence calling for the police and others to leave the Commons.
“It’s just absurd to tear down a community garden that grows food for people in the local community in the midst of difficult living conditions, and arrest people for trying to grow their own food,” member Shane Cucow said.
“And just the presence of the police as well … it’s just crazy.”
Jemika Lancaster – whose sister was in a nearby tree inside the fenced off area – added the park played an important role in bringing the community together, and said her friend Zoe’s ashes were scattered on the site.
“It’s a place to gather, it’s a place to remember and remember who we are… and also the kind of world we want to live in… it’s a place to gather in a world with few third places.”
Police confirmed Tuesday morning that at least one person was sleeping in a tree and remained inside the fence. About 10 protesters were at the site, and officers remained at the scene.
A Queensland Economic Development representative recommended the land be sold for development.
“A Queensland taxpayer-owned site is being developed to meet a community need – more housing,” the statement read.
“The land is owned by Queenslanders and was not approved for continuous ownership or as a community park, and users were well informed of this some time ago.”
Queensland Police said their teams were called just after noon, and arrested six people for the disturbance.
“Officers are continuing to work with the two people up the tree to ensure they are safely removed,” a spokesman said at around 7pm.
Brisbane City Council’s representative for the area, Trina Massey of the Greens, criticized the decision to appear without notice and block members of the community.
“The state government has closed Kurilpa Commons, locking out the very community that transformed this open public land into a thriving community space,” he said.
“Once again, the state government is working overtime to sell public land that belongs to the community, while shutting communities out of decisions about its future. Communities deserve transparency and input about public land, not an immediate hedge.”
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