GAWLER Council is denying it knowingly disposed of a homeless man’s belongings, claiming the items were mistaken for rubbish.

Brian Tape has been sleeping rough at Dead Man’s Pass but returned to the area late last week to find all his belongings, including a small tent, blankets, some food, and a mobile phone had been cleared.

“I had my phone, all my clothes, I had a trolley I used to carry all my stuff in, and they just think it is rubbish. They have deemed my lifestyle rubbish,” Mr Tape said.

“I have been to council and they have said ‘it’s been disposed of and I’ve got no leg to stand on’.”

Mr Tape said he has been homeless for several years but only recently returned to Dead Man’s Pass after being moved on from sleeping in a toilet block off High Street.

He was able to purchase a tent after receiving a COVID-19 related support payment from Centrelink.

“When I was told to move on I said ‘well where do I move onto?’,” he said.

“…I’m just doing the best I can. I’m being persecuted for living on the street because I haven’t got a home.”

On Monday, Gawler Council told The Bunyip the disposed items had since been recovered and arrangements were being made to return them to Mr Tape.

Mayor Karen Redman said council’s town services staff had collected what they considered to be ‘sodden dumped rubbish’, following a report from the public.

“It is regrettable that staff did not initially identify this material to be that of a rough sleeper,  although I’m not surprised, given the nature of the items and considering they were similar to other dumped material which frustratingly occurs at different times in the township,” she said.

“Also, Dead Man’s Pass is not a camping ground so again, it was not surprising that staff saw the items and in good faith cleaned up the site.

“In the context of what has transpired, council staff will consider what further measures can be put in place at an administration level to provide a more sensitive management approach in the future with what might ordinarily be seen as dumped rubbish by members of the public.”

Mr Tape said he has always felt supported by the everyday people of Gawler, and especially UCare Gawler, which has since given him replacement food and blankets.

However, he continues to feel unwelcome from those in a position of authority.

During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic response, closure of the toilet block at the Visitor Information Centre (under directive from SA Health) left he and other homeless people without a place to shower for several weeks.

“People need to know about this; It’s not easy to be homeless,” Mr Tape said.

“The Gawler community is brilliant – people come up and give me food, a roll or drink and I’m gobsmacked by it.

“It’s just people in higher places… more worried about a road being opened than a person sitting on a bench with nothing.”

Ms Redman said council staff would continue to liaise with Mr Tape and a local service provider to ensure he is supported.