High-pitched noise used to deter rough sleepers under trouble-plagued Perth bridge
Housing Minister and Perth MP John Carey said he was surprised to learn the local government had made a high-pitched noise to deter people from setting up tents at a popular homeless campsite on a cycle path in East Perth.
The Public Transport Authority said it had installed high-pitched speakers 24/7 under the Lord Street overpass, 150 meters northeast of McIver train station.
The area around this area had been a popular place for rough sleepers to camp in previous years, but large fences have been erected and tents have been pitched along the cycle path as a result.
The PTA shut down the noise Tuesday morning after the noise was investigated by homelessness advocates.
Hostile architecture and the use of noise and music to deter anti-social behavior have sparked controversy. The city of Bunbury has been forced to apologize for playing The Wiggles’ Hot Potato on loop at the Bricknell Music Shell, a popular place for homeless people in the city to gather in 2023.
Carey, a former homelessness minister, said the use of noise in the East Perth underpass had “caught him off guard” and he only became aware of it on Tuesday morning.
He said the use of hostile approaches to deter rough sleepers was not approved by his government but was aware that part of Perth was an area of concern.
“I wasn’t aware of it, so it surprised me. But what didn’t surprise me was the difficulties experienced in that area. It’s well known to the local community,” he said.
“The advice I have been given is that the PTA has now closed this down and the PTA will work with the City of Perth.
“As a local member I am aware of this underpass more broadly as significant concerns have been raised by local people, including attacks on local residents.
“I’ve personally been contacted by a woman who was a local voter who was assaulted there. So clearly there’s work to be done to improve security around the underpass.”
Carey said there were better ways to deter anti-social behavior, including improving lighting and strengthening homeless outreach.
“We have increased homeless outreach funding. We have common ground. We want to help people get through our streets, but at the same time we still face problems of anti-social behavior in certain areas,” he said.
A PTA spokesman said the City of Perth had requested a noise device be installed at the Lord Street underpass.
“The noise device has been turned off. We will work with the City of Perth to determine a more suitable route,” he said.
Homelessness advocate Jesse Noakes questioned how Carey would feel if the noise played outside her house all night long.
“Will it address the root cause of homelessness and provide safe and secure residential tenancies, which is what the local community is actually demanding?” he said.
The City of Perth has been approached for comment.
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Hamish Hastie is WAtoday’s state political correspondent and the winner of five WA Media Awards, including the 2023 Beck Award for best political journalism.Connect with: X or email.
