Queensland’s transport department has threatened to penalise residents who set up street-side charity cupboards without filling in the requisite paperwork.
The Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR) sent notices to the North Ipswich Free Shop, ordering them to cease all “dumping” on state-owned land.
The “free shop” is a community cupboard stocked with canned food, women’s sanitary products, children’s toys, and other items donated by neighbourhood volunteers.
The North Ipswich Free Shop is stocked by volunteers (ABC Radio Brisbane: Kenji Sato)
In a letter to residents, the department said it was “an offence to abandon goods or dump materials” on state-controlled land.
The department told residents they had until Friday to remove the items, or else they would be removed at the owners’ expense.
A TMR spokesperson told ABC Radio Brisbane the residents were not authorised to place items on state land.
“During a recent inspection, TMR identified items located within the state-controlled road corridor at 52 Pine Mountain Road, which were found to be placed without the required Road Corridor Permit and subsequently requested they be removed from the road corridor and relocated,” the spokesperson said.
“Road corridors must be kept clear to ensure the safety of road users and pedestrians, as well as maintain accessibility.”
Shop founder Mina Lib said the items were not on the pavement and did not obstruct pedestrians.
Ms Lib said she opened the shop outside her house 15 months ago, and since then, it has been used by homeless people, women fleeing domestic violence, and young struggling families.
“Almost everyone on this street comes daily to donate food or collect food, because everyone’s struggling,” Ms Lib said.
“I think TMR just got a bit bored, to be quite honest.
“Fixing the main road and infrastructure isn’t on their priority list, but taking down a free shop is.”
Jade Tindall and Cecil Kessel volunteer for the North Ipswich Free Shop (ABC Radio Brisbane: Kenji Sato)
Jade Tindall said she was one of the volunteers who kept the pantries stocked and the shelves sorted.
Ms Tindall said she had experienced homelessness firsthand, which is why she wanted to help others in the community who were struggling.
“The systems we have aren’t broken, they are working exactly as intended,” Ms Tindall said.
“If they wanted to help us, they could, but instead they have chosen to spend their time, resources, and energy shutting down community organisations.”
Volunteer Cecil Kessel said the shop also catered to working families, not just the hungry and homeless.
“I don’t see it as a form of charity, but more a sense of community,” Mr Kessel said.
“A lot of working-class people are struggling at the moment and it’s up to us to band together and help each other out.”