A GAWLER community shelter will be rebuilt on Reid Street amid concerns its removal would have a detrimental impact on those sleeping rough in the town.

Council recently removed the shelter at the Reid Street community park over safety fears, with no immediate plans to replace the structure.

At their special meeting last week, elected members voted six-to-four in favour of a motion from councillor Ian Tooley to replace the shelter he said was “enjoyed” by local rough sleepers.

During debate, he said he was “troubled” when he saw the shelter had been removed.

He also raised doubts over council’s explanation for removing the structure, feeling it was actually about moving homeless people away from the centre of town.

“I just wonder, if in taking it down, we were a bit cruel,” he said. Whether there was some thinking of ‘if we remove the shelter, we remove the (homelessness) problem.

“If that’s the case that’s terrible. And if it was a genuine case of that it (the shelter) had gone past its use-by-date, then let’s put that shelter back.

“Let’s not make it hard for people who are the most disadvantaged in our community who enjoy congregating there.”

Councillor Paul Little, a former police officer, supported the motion, saying it was a “safe haven” for the town’s disadvantaged.

“They (the homeless and rough sleepers) used to go there because it was open, they wouldn’t have to worry about being victimised,” he said.

“It was a safe haven because the Salvation Army would set up there, Vinnies would be there and the police would be there.”

During debate, council chief executive Henry Inat advised Cr Tooley he should first seek an investigation into the cost of replacing the shelter, which is currently unknown.

Cr Tooley rejected the change though, saying the shelter should be replaced regardless of the cost.