A newborn baby has died after a woman gave birth at a riverside campsite occupied by rough sleepers in southern NSW.

NSW Police said officers from the Riverina Police District attended the campsite, located along the Murrumbidgee River near Wagga Beach, locating a woman, 37, and two infants.

Police confirmed one of the infants was deceased.

“The woman and the surviving infant were treated by NSW Ambulance paramedics before being taken to Wagga Wagga Base Hospital,” a NSW Police spokeswoman said.

The ABC reports both babies had just been born along the particular area of the river, which houses rough sleepers.

A newborn baby has died after a woman gave birth at a riverside campsite occupied by rough sleepers. Picture: Supplied
NSW Homelessness Minister Rose Jackson told the broadcaster the news was “heartbreaking”.

“A lot is still unknown about this tragic event and as such I’ve asked Homes NSW for a full investigation into the family’s circumstances,” she said in a statement.

Police have said there are no suspicious circumstances and a report will be prepared for the coroner.

The death has rocked the local community, with Wagga Wagga City Councillor Richard Foley saying he was “devastated” by the reports.

“I do not intend to pre-empt a police investigation, and I extend my profound condolences to the mother and everyone who loves her,” he said in a statement issued through his Facebook page.

“I pray for the survival of the infant still fighting for life. But I will not be silent about what this represents.”

Police said there are no suspicious circumstances surrounding the death. Picture: Supplied
Mr Foley called the death a “direct and predictable” result of “years of systemic failure” by state and federal governments to address the growing housing crisis across the city and broader state.

“I have been raising the alarm in council chambers, in public, and to anyone who would listen that the situation on our riverbanks was going to end in tragedy if left unaddressed,” he said.

“Vulnerable people, including women of childbearing age, have been sleeping rough on the Wagga riverbank.

“This has been documented. This has been reported. This has been raised at council. And nothing adequate in my opinion has yet been done.”
“This crisis has been duck-shoved between bureaucracies for too long. State agencies, federal departments, and yes at times this very council have passed responsibility around while vulnerable people sleep rough on our riverbanks.”