Hi everyone,
I’m reaching out as Chairman of the Caloundra Chamber of Commerce to begin a mature, constructive conversation about an issue that is increasingly impacting our town: homelessness and rough sleeping in public spaces.
This is not about outrage, blame, or headlines. It’s about leadership, community, and outcomes.
Many people are doing it tough and we should remain compassionate. At the same time, we’re hearing directly from business owners and employers that the current situation is affecting staff confidence and safety, the customer experience, and the way families and visitors experience Caloundra – particularly in high-visibility locations.
When it affects one of us, it affects all of us.
Before the Chamber engages further with Council, I want to gather a clear and balanced picture from our members so we can represent the business community responsibly and constructively.
We’ve created a short anonymous form that takes 2–3 minutes to complete. It’s designed as a quick pulse check (hot or cold), with space for anyone who wants to share a location, an example, or a practical idea.
A few notes:
- This is anonymous – no names or email addresses are collected.
- You don’t need to answer every question; even a couple of responses help
- If you do have a specific example or location, your detail will help us present an evidence-based view to Council and relevant agencies.
Once we’ve gathered feedback, we’ll summarise the key themes (without identifying anyone) and use that to guide our next steps with Council in a way that is calm, credible and outcome-focused.
Thank you for being part of the conversation and for helping us show strong, mature community leadership.
Kind regards,
Michael Shadforth
Chairman, Caloundra Chamber of Commerce