While it may not be high on many grey nomad ‘must-visit lists’ any more, the NSW town of Byron Bay is still hugely popular with travellers … and illegal camping is a huge problem.
In the latest crackdown, Byron Shire Council has just allocated its Enforcement Team another $250,000 for additional staff and a vehicle to target illegal camping and parking, and irresponsible dog ownership.
Byron Shire Mayor, Michael Lyon said it was time to get tough.
“Illegal camping has been a problem in the Byron Shire for many years but in places like Brunswick Heads and parts of Byron Bay, residents have had enough,” he said.
'No Camping' signs have become an increasingly familiar sight in many regional communities. PIC: Cizza
“With the addition of several new staff we can extend patrols and provide a more responsive approach to complaints, not just about illegal camping, but in relation to dogs and illegal parking as well.”
It seems like uncontrolled dogs are becoming an increasing issue.
“Byron Shire Council, when compared to other council areas in NSW, has high rates of dog attacks and people in the community are rightly tired of seeing uncontrolled dogs roaming on beaches, streets and parks,” Mayor Lyon said.
From January 1 to December 31, 2022, the council said it:
Sarah Nagel, Manager Public and Environmental Services, said staff issued double the number of fines and undertook double the number of prosecutions for dog matters in 2022 compared to 2021 and this practice will continue.
“In many cases we find it’s not the dog that’s the problem but their owners who refuse to accept that their dogs, by law, need to be on a lead and controlled when they are on public property,” she said.
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Visited once many years ago. Never been back and would prefer my memories to the reality of byron bay nowadays.
Byron Bay used to be a number one place to visit. Now if we have time we might drive to the lighthouse just for the view, and then go on. We have found plenty of other places that suit us better.
We agree Alan as that is exactly what we did last visit.
Even in the 1990’s Byron Bay and Ballina were overzealous. In a violent storm, I got off the highway into a suburban side street. Within ten minutes police were at my door, with the occupants of a house looking out their windows. I was instructed to leave immediately, even though the police were standing in the rain getting soaking wet.
The sooner they develop a bypass at that place the better.
Illegal camping rarely is by Grey Nomads, the young tourists and backpackers are the main offenders, at Byron.
It’s not young tourist and backpackers in vans, there are many homeless locals as the rents are too high! They have to meet up like other young people! I have been to Brunswick and there are many but say hi and accept where they are at right now! Respect for each other goes a long way.
I agree with you. There are many homeless people in the world. Mostly they are nice people, My main problem with them is those who do not tidy up their sites. You do not know if they are like that until they’ve left. Does anyone have a constructive suggestion?
The only memory of Byron Bay that we have is buying the worst take-away pizzas that we’ve ever had in our lives. Definitely not on our list of places revisit.
Why would I stop at that place, its over priced and up itself with all the do’s & dont’s
My thoughts too.
Sorry Byron Bay we just drive through.
YEP
There should be no such thing as illegal camping, all shires should have to provide a free campsite, instead of forcing people to go to the one or two overpriced campsites, we pay a fortune for off grid caravans and campers only to be forced into these greedy campsites and be fleeced by these well connected shire campsite owners. I was a grey nomad but had to pack it and sell up due to the overpricing.
Guess you want free hamburgers, coffee and fuel too? Talk about entitled,
Agree Tony
I agree Tony, talk about wanting everything for nothing!
And shires should provide free campsites for homeless locals!
Won’t go there now and won’t spend my hard earned cash there now either. Not even for coffee n lunch, let alone dinner n drinks.
I’ll try and find friendlier and less snobby towns.
It Was once a beautiful laid back town. Mid 80s bought the inevitable change. It’s now a worn out coastal town that has lost its charm just like so many other towns on the north coast.
I agree.
Visiting Byron Bay now…it is obvious Mad Max was a documentary ..
I have not been to the Bay , it was on my plan. but like many places you are not allowed to camp. I live in Geographe bay WA and they have just shut the only free camp place, it was a small site among pine trees. so now their are no free camping sites in the Busselton shire. which is a large shire. because of a few many are not able to free camp and if you come here in the summer all the van parks will be full so don’t bother if you haven’t booked.
It doesn’t matter where you go, free camping is being ruined by entitled people who think they can just camp where they want & do what they want & stay for as long as they want. Grey Nomads included. My family are truck drivers & the number of times caravaners have parked up in sites (designated rest areas/gravel pits etc) that aren’t for them & then abused the truckers when they pull in for mandatory rest stops is increasing. Its so sad that we are losing this type of camping due to a hope is a small minority of caravanners/campers.
I absolutely agree Lee, there are way too many entitled travellers now who are ruining the experience for everyone. For 30 years of travelling full time we have seen the demise and closure of fabulous free or low cost camping due to entitled travellers, grey nomads included who think they can travel this great country for nothing. Can’t blame Byron Shire.
Good old Byron. We won’t be back. In any event it seems Byron does not want caravanners or tourists. The parking fees are through the roof, the local Highway patrol seems to be everywhere at once, and council appears hell bent on recouping its deficit by stitching up the visitors.
Neve going there again just a bunch of snobs shove it we’re the sun don’t fit
Visited Byron as a youngster many years ago and have never been back and don’t care if i do, In my eyes they feel privelaged and we must bow to them before entering.
“Call some place paradise… kiss it goodbye”
Best part about Byron is the road past it, overrated overcrowded.