Grey nomads or any other travellers seeking to spend a sneaky night parked up in car parks in the NSW town of Evans Head are being warned to stay away.
Richmond Valley Council rangers have said they will be taking a ‘zero tolerance’ approach, with offenders be fined and ordered to move on.
The Daily Examiner newspaper reports that illegal camping is common in the area during holiday seasons and rangers have recently issued a number of fines to van owners.
Council general manager, Vaughan Macdonald, warned would-be offenders that the council was aware of the issue and taking a proactive stance.
“Camping is not permitted in any council car park and we ask that if people are visiting us, please observe the parking rules,” Mr Macdonald told the Daily Examiner. “These rules are in place for a reason … if overnight camping was allowed in our car parks they would be overflowing with visitors and the limited public amenities would not cope.”
He said the council made no apologies for continuing to monitor its car parks and issuing infringement notices to anyone who broke the rules.
“It’s important that council takes its responsibility to enforce parking rules seriously for the benefit of local residents and businesses, as many businesses rely on travellers to pay for accommodation, and also buy food and fuel in our towns.
For travellers looking to free camp in the Richmond Valley area, the council says it recently established a short-stay campground for campervans and camper trailers at the Casino Showground, where self-contained visitors can stay free for up to 48 hours. Casino is approximately 57 kilometres from Evans Head.
Yes I have parked up in my Van overnight, with the attitude of cause no harm, make no excessive noise. Clean up and take all rubbish with you!. This is only done in non crowded, non touristy areas. I understand that councils must unfortunately cater to the lowest common denominator. However this policy is unfair as most Van travellers do do the right thing by everyone and the community. We should be reporting and the offenders find. As for the Infrastructure being able to handle it? Most people whom do this are self contained. Like most things in our society of this nature the laws are now more revenue focused.
Bunnings Car parking areas are private property, owned by bunnings and not under the jurisdiction of local councils, any Bunnings carpark I’ve parked in over night has been with the permission of the store staff.
Public liability insurance/ Bunnings will not cover them or you. You’re lucky they let you stay there because the staff probably had no idea and thought it was ok. Just arrive late and leave early.
In NSW s632 of the Local Government Act basically says wherever it is legal to park you can stay in your vehicle ON … and there is nothing any NSW Council can do about UNLESS they change the parking rules e.g. Byron: NO PARKING between 11pm and 5am …
Note: NSW Courts have found many times that sleeping in your car is NOT camping and Council cannot fine you for it … They can fine you for littering, washing up outside, peeing or pooing in public, noise or breaching other council rules/regs.
Also keep in mind that if your motorhome is more than 4.5tonnes, more than 7m in length and more than 3.2m high it is ILLEGAL to park in most areas!! So it is ILLEGAL to park most of the larger motorhomes (or car/caravans) in most areas ….
But the catchall if hassled is you only have to inform the Ranger that you do not feel well enough to drive safely and there is nothing they can do as the Roads and Traffic Act overrides ALL council powers … I owuld suggest u do it nicely with a promise to move on as soon as you feel well on video 🙂
The Showground isn’t dog friendly.
I have seen,in my 20 yrs on the road,a heap of vehicles that sport the “I support local businesses” sticker on their rigs parked illegally.One or the other people!!!!!!!
That’s right. Local businesses as in plural. With staying in a caravan park you can’t afford to support any more businesses than just the one. So yes, just one or more of others!
Looks like they don’t want any travellers,or their money,just watch the local businesses suffer.support local business,,yea right
Maybe the council should put more resources into the local facilities to encourage more travellers to spend more money in the district. Even use the fines to upgrade facilities so there is somewhere affordable to stay. Not everyone is a holiday maker as it’s becoming more of a lifestyle choice.
If a council makes it clear they don’t want vans, then i’ll just go elsewhere. I have an off grid van, i’m self contained, I need nothing, I leave no trace. The only difference between a random car parked over night and my van, is that i’m sleeping inside it. I’m not paying to park on a patch of grass or concrete when there are countless empty car parks everywhere I look.
All I do make is park outside someone’s house in the right place & never get hassled, I’m gone by early morning to park at the beach, make a coffee, have breakfast & go for a swim…so get that up ya muffler Evans council.
Stay in Casino 57km away …beautiful luxurious casino….or Evans head ♂️no brainer really.