Another coastal council has introduced strict new rules intended to crack down on camping in local streets and reserves.
Overnight parking restrictions have been introduced at several key sites at Tweed Heads in northern New South Wales.
A number of new signs have been erected at popular tourist sites indicating that parking will be prohibited between 11pm and 5am, seven days a week.
Rangers will be patrolling the area and on-the-spot fines issued to anyone found parking in a restricted zone.
The moves comes just days after Kempsey Shire Council on the NSW Mid North Coast did exactly the same thing.
The Tweed Shire Council says it has experienced a noticeable increase in vehicles parking overnight since restrictions were introduced at popular beach spots along the Tweed Coast late last year, to combat illegal camping in those areas.
Mayor of Tweed Cr Chris Cherry said the latest crackdown was triggered by a wave of complaints from nearby residents.
“Council has received a steep rise in complaints from residents concerned about the number of overnight campers and lack of available parking around Point Danger, Duranbah Beach, Twin Towns and Jack Evans Boat Harbour,” she said. “We have two issues here – we have homelessness, which is a genuine concern in our Shire and we need State Government help to urgently address this, and we have travellers who don’t feel like paying for their stay. It is the second group we are targeting with these changes.”
The Mayor said residents were concerned about significant public amenity, health and environmental issues that may arise from so many people sleeping overnight in their vehicles.
“These new parking restrictions are in direct response to those concerns and will be closely monitored by our rangers with on-the-spot fines issued,” she said. “There will continue to be ample parking provided on public roads around Tweed Heads for those seeking access to popular beach and lookout locations between 11pm and 5am, and we are confident these restrictions will not adversely impact local residents or businesses.”
Cr Cherry said the problem of illegal camping was not isolated to the Tweed.
“Both our neighbouring councils in the Gold Coast and Byron Shire are experiencing similar problems with illegal campers and have also been forced to introduce measures to restrict overnight parking on public streets,” she said. “There has been a noticeable improvement in the situation along our beaches since restrictions were put in place last October and Council will continue to consult with specific groups, such as fishing clubs and homelessness outreach programs, to minimise any impact to the community.”
Good.
This is where stealth camping techniques come to play when, I am bicycletouring with my dog, you can hide anywhere, in a little 2 man tent that is green and no reflectives. It is not always possible to leave an area on a bike, at 5pm in the afternoon, and get to where you can legally camp before dark In these instances, I stealth camp somewhere nearby.
We have travellers that don’t feel like paying for their stay!! or maybe they are homeless or just can’t afford it.