Left in the Cold: Storms Destroy Point Peron Camps as Homeless Families with Children Fight to Survive
As tents are flattened and belongings ruined, these local volunteers refuse to look away from Rockingham's unfolding humanitarian crisis.
By Wade McColl (01/06/2026)
Ruined belongings and waterlogged bedding scattered through the mud after the storm. Photo: Phil Edman.
The severe winter storms that battered the Western Australian coastline over the last 48 hours have dealt a devastating blow to our region’s most vulnerable residents.
While most of us watched the wild weather from the safety of a warm living room, the displaced community out at Memorial Drive and the surrounding Point Peron bushland were fighting to keep their temporary shelters from being torn apart.
Local advocate Phil Edman visited the sites this morning to check on the welfare of the residents, discovering a scene of widespread destruction. Multiple tents were completely flattened, blankets were waterlogged, and critical survival gear was ruined by the intense wind and rain.
Toddlers and Teens Braving the Elements
The remains of flattened tents and exposed campsites at Point Peron. Photo: Phil Edman.
The true tragedy of this aftermath isn’t just the property damage: it is the human cost. This morning’s welfare checks revealed that multiple families with very young children are currently living exposed in the dense Point Peron bushland.
Among those braving the freezing, damp conditions are a 2-year-old toddler, a 5-year-old child, and a 12-year-old boy.
The geographical irony of the situation remains a bitter pill for locals to swallow. Less than 500 meters from where these young children are sleeping on wet ground, perfectly viable, state-managed recreation camps sit entirely empty, locked behind fences, while a bureaucratic stalemate drags on.
Grassroots Support Holds the Line
Nirvana Danzi and the Happy Pantry Baldivis team give out essentials to the community on Memorial Drive. Photo: Nirvana Danzi.
With the official system heavily gridlocked, the day-to-day survival of these families rests entirely on the shoulders of the Rockingham and Baldivis communities.
Local residents spent their morning traveling out to the bushland to deliver emergency hot food, dry clothing, and much-needed human company to ensure these families know they aren’t completely forgotten.
An overflowing waste bin and abandoned items highlight the lack of basic infrastructure at the site. Photo: Phil Edman.
The logistical pressure on the camp is growing. Basic infrastructure is non-existent, and the single general waste bin on-site is overflowing, desperately requiring an immediate empty from authorities to prevent health hazards.
Fortunately, practical relief is on the way. Mobile support organization Orange Sky is actively looking to deploy assets directly to Memorial Drive to establish mobile laundry services and hot showers, providing a baseline of dignity to those doing it tough.
Temporary tents are pitched along the tree line as the community attempts to rebuild. Photo: Phil Edman.
The mainstream media networks frequently pack up their cameras when the storm clouds clear, but the humanitarian crisis on our streets is only intensifying as winter sets in. We will continue to follow this story closely as the community demands real, immediate shelter options for these families.
Subscribe for Real, Independent Local News
The Baldivis Times is entirely dedicated to uncovering the real stories impacting our community without corporate spin. Support independent local journalism by subscribing to our newsletter today to get breaking regional updates sent straight to your inbox.