As the popularity of the on-the-road lifestyle surges, a spotlight is inevitably being shone on some of the potentially negative impacts of this trend … such as the inappropriate disposal of toilet waste!
And that’s meant the slow but steady expansion of ‘self-contained-only’ camps.
At the moment, the interpretation of what actually constitutes self-contained seems to vary significantly depending on where you are and who you talk to, and the policing of the ‘rules’ is pretty patchy.
“We spend most of our time free camping … and have never seen anyone checking up on this,” said grey nomad, Derek Morris.
End of an era! Good evening, sir. Can you show me your toilet, please? PIC: Suat Inan / Pexels
Veteran traveller, Ge Wilson, argues that self-contained doesn’t have to mean a full bathroom, and that a portable loo and some sort of catchment for grey water is all that’s required.
“The problem lies with local authorities and their different thoughts and sometimes misinformed information,” he said. “Let’s get a standard definition for all.”
However, it could be a case of be careful what you wish for.
Across the ditch in New Zealand, new legislation mandating that only self-contained vehicles with fixed toilets will be allowed to stay on council-managed land is close to being passed.
The Self-Contained Motor Vehicles Legislation Bill is currently being considered by the Economic Development, Science and Innovation Committee, which is expected to report back to Parliament in the next few weeks.
Parliament will then debate the Bill, with any new regulations potentially coming into force 28 days after the law is enacted.
If and when this happens, it will throw a proverbial hand grenade into the travelling habits of an army of nonself-contained New Zealand adventurers.
Vehicles will have to be certified as self-contained with fixed toilets, and the rules are set to be overseen by agents authorised by the Plumbers, Gasfitters and Drainlayers Board.
The infringement system is also set to be ramped up to ensure that only certified self-contained vehicles stay on council land, unless the site is designated otherwise.
The legislation was initiated after the number of freedom campers in New Zealand surged to more than 250,000 in 2019, and stories of unsociable and unsanitary behaviour sparked widespread outcry.
Whether a similar crackdown is imminent in this country is unclear, but there are plenty of grey nomads who already feel things have gone too far.
Camper trailer traveller, Ted Samuels, has previously hit out at the self-contained-only trend, saying it is creating a ‘them and us’ division.
And he says that just because he doesn’t have a ‘self-contained’ vehicle, it doesn’t somehow make him a lesser traveller or less respectful of the environment.
“We free camp where we can and leave nothing but footprints,” he said.
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Possibly easier to regulate in NZ. Smaller country, smaller population.
Nigh on impossible to “police” in remote areas.