A popular RV stopover in Western Australia’s south-west has been closed … with immediate effect.
Dardanup Shire councillors decided to stop camping at the 72-hour stopover site on Gardiner Reserve in Burekup due to a lack of supervision resources and alleged non-compliance by visitors.
The Bunbury Herald reports that, although the council had received a petition with almost 150 signatures calling for the site to remain open, the motion to close the site was carried 5-4.
The site, which had been designated in 2015 and eventually established in late 2020, allowed up to five recreational vehicles to park at the site at any one time for no longer than 72 hours. Visitors were advised to register their presence at the town’s general store.
However, about 160 complaints were received by the Shire over the past year.
Shire president Mick Bennett told the Bunbury Herald most of the complaints were that caravanners would ‘act like they owned the place’ and not follow site conditions.
“Most complaints were that caravanners would please themselves where they would park; some were not registering because of late arrival and not adhering to the signage conditions,” he said. “We also had too many people park at the site at times”
He said that last Easter, there were 14 caravans parked there, which meant campers were interrupting community use of the area.
Cr Bennett said the heightened tourism season was a possible main cause of problems surrounding the Burekup site, despite the 24-hour site in Dardanup at the town’s hall not experiencing the same issues.
He told the council that he was initially a major supporter of the stopover site, but was disappointed to see it hadn’t worked out as intended.
“I was prepared to see how this would work out for everyone but the people using the site at times were in tents or campervans that did not have toilet or shower facilities when being self-sufficient was a major part of granting permission,” he said.
According to the Bunbury Herald, it was also reported to council in December 2020 that monitoring of the site would be limited and rangers would not be able to hold daily routine inspections due to resourcing limitations, with rangers patrolling the site 55 times while it was open.
Shire of Dardanup development services manager Murray Connell said in a report to the council it had become evident the current level of service the Shire could provide was ‘not meeting expectations’ of some of the community that called for either daily monitoring or for the site to be closed.
“The original intent for the RV site was for a stopover, however it is now apparent that the utilisation of the site for 72 hours is more akin to a caravan park facility,” his report read.
The Bunbury Herald reports that councillors also voted for the Shire to consult the Burekup community on a location for a 24-hour recreational vehicle stopover site within the locality, with a report set to be brought to council in June.
Not us Victorians, we have been locked out.
I have a house in burekup, but travel most of the year in my caravan.
I think the decision is somewhat biased by local individuals that don’t like the concept.
Parking was an issue, but after signs were erected, that issue was negated from what I have seen.
I believe there were more vans than allowed on a few occasions, given covid and the number of caravaners on the road, that is not unexpected.
There are many other such sites in the southwest, these are also not managed daily by rangers, and encroach on public spaces. There seems little issue with those locations.
As a suggestion, why not have the likes of a local as a caretaker to cater for out of hours attendance, a contact for those arriving too late for the local store. It only happens every now and then, not every day.
I find it disappointing to find this site closed, it bring people into the town and promotes burekup, it’s local shop and club to the wider public.
Has to be locals No Other visitors have been allowed in this State for SO LONG
You would be amazed at just how many out of staters have been “Trapped ” in this beautiful part of the country.. Now with the borders open I don’t see any line of caravans waiting to flee back from where they came..
Well said Maureen
No out of staters were trapped. You could leave W.A., but not get in. They can only blame W.A. residents for this decision, no one else.
You know I can’t see anywhere in the article where it blames people from out of state causing the problem. Yes it is more than likely to be locals so take your jealousy and shove it!!
Flee back from where they came, you make people sound like Rats, well, i won’t be travelling over there for a very long time and i hope other people are the same. That clown of a premier you have got over there has stuffed it right up. I hope your economy is suffering. Oh, that’s right, you are propping up the rest of Australia, Bollocks!!!
In my travels through WA I have come across many caravaners from the eastern states who have been criss crossing WA as we have been able to travel freely with very few lockdowns.
Why not give a local sporting club the opportunity to collect a $5 per van fee & monitor the SC requirements,
as per a sign on entry. It works well in Tasmania and many small rural towns in the Eastern States.
That’s the best way, we stayed at Eneabba sport’s oval overnight and a local turned up and had a yarn telling us about the local sites to see and collected $5. The sporting ground showers and toilets were clean. These days it seems that some people find it hard to respect other peoples property and leaving something free and uncontrolled is going to attract those individuals who take…
If council cannot see that is probably more as a result of lack of ability of travellers to roam freely due to covid restrictions, then counxil needs to re-examine this proposal, this time with the blinkers removed.
Yep, locals. WA has become the Hotel California state. You can check out when you like but you can never leave.
should be check in not check out.
well WA have be in lock out for a year so it would be WA using them
We have stayed 2 nights here as we arrived late afternoon. Fortunately we were in time to go to the post office and also bought some food. Perhaps it could be turned into a $5 a night with fees collected by a local service club or school parents with funds for the school.
It is too easy to blame Grey Nomads and Council tell lies because they can.
What is wrong with using cameras to monitor the area and that way you can record number plates and fine them if they are doing the wrong thing
Cameras cost money to but &run . A better idea would be have the local footy club or similar to collect a small fee
This would incur a cost and chasing up culprits not feasible.
Well said
Police state sort of thing? Be careful what you wish for.
a handful of locals… it was great business for the local shop and surrounding areas… most locals thought it was a fantastic idea…minority wins again…a real shame this site has been closed down..
These caravaners were spending money in the local community this is key to any tourism strategy. If you can get people to stop and stay they will spend money in the community. This is a typical council solution to a complex problem. Perhaps as Bill mentioned below appoint a Burekup local as a caretaker to make sure visitors aren’t gaming the council. I would imagine too with borders reopening (even in WA) that visitors will better be able to spread themselves around more. On how many occasions did the site accomodate more than it was designed for?
We Have stayed there at least 3 times in the last 6 months, a lovely spot, such a shame that it had to come to this being so close to Bunbury & surrounding tourist attractions,
Being in a large rig, it suited us perfectly as at 19 mtrs long we can’t get into C/van parks. . If People Keep on Abusing the recommended numbers at sites like this one, then more freedom Camps are going to be closed.
Exactly
Its a shame this is happening but it has been happening for many years.
But now there are no backpackers to blame.
Its a lot of older travellers ignoring signs and time frames.
It’s because of them a lot of free camping ereas will be closed.
And its travellers from all states
How can it be travellers from interstate as you have been closed for two years..
There are a lot of interstate travellers over here , not saying it is them causing problems as the ones Ive met DO the right thing
Untrue. I entered WA from NT in August 2021 on a G2G permit and spent 4 months in WA.
Similar here, and hoping to return this August. Had marked this place as a possibility but I guess now some other small community will get our patronage and money. We prefer to give small communities our money rather than formal Caravan Parks and have no problem abiding by the rules and paying reasonable charges.
Yes and there is a lot of West Australians stuck in the eastern states that could not get back in to the Gulag
You taken a survey of the average age have we?
This is just one more way of forcing us to pay exorbitant local camp site fees so stop with the bs
Us easterners have been locked out due to covid borders, just sayin.
This is just typical WA they would have to be the most unfriendly RV state.
The tyrants at work again
Typical for some Aussies who expect something for nothing. Makes it harder for those that do the right thing. They always have the loudest voices around the campfire.
Has also happened to the free spot in Walpole. Shire of Manjimup. Another bakery to bypass
Once again incompetent Shires that cannot manage a facility remove it completely as a sure fix. To them I say to address the obvious – increase the availability of sites in a larger area because it is patently obvious from the narrative that that is necessary, enforce the self sufficiency rule, and 72-hour limit and forget the registration belarney because it is serving no purpose. Acknowledge that there is a requirement for two types of Rv facility required – Holiday parks and casual self-sufficient. There is a lot more demand for self sufficient destinations and any council not providing for same is denying the town of valuable trade.
No they don’t own the place because if it was their own place they wouldn’t do that but then again we don’t know what they’re place is lile.
Good on the council for closing the site
Responsible caravaner
Watch councils scream nobody is staying in the area. Can’t have it both ways
Never stayed there but it is the same old story .A minority of ignorant and selfish people spoil it for everyone .Same as people leaving a site in a mess with litter all over the place .Then they wonder why an area is closed up.
This is yet another example of the Council NOT supplying the necessary RANGER resources that we see at other short stay sites, and then blaming the caravanners for non compliance! What happens then is the caravanners, most of which have their own facilities as I do, instead of spending the many thousand of dollars in the local town, move on to somewhere else. IT IS A DIRECT LOSS TO THE LOCAL BUSINESSES OF MANY THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS THAT OUR CARAVAN CLUB HAS DOCUMENTED, IS SPENT IN THE LOCAL TOWN THAT ARE TRYING TO RECOVER FROM THE COVID. MOST OF US ALSO HAVE LARGE ENOUGH TANKS IN OUR TOWING CAR SO THAT WE DON’T HAVE TO STOP IN YOUR TOWN FOR FUEL AND WILL TAKE OUR LUCRATIVE DOLLARS SOMEWHERE ELSE!!
A FURTHER COMMENT having read the article on fuel prices increase.
Many people talk about taking the big lap!
That includes spending many miles in God Forsaken Land in WA to be able to stop at a few sites! after buying extreme quantities of fuel at inflated prices!!
I for one, and many other people from the Eastern states WILL NOT BE SPENDING MY WAR SERVICE PENSION and my other savings IN WA whilst places like Burekup are doing what they can to discourage caravanners from the Eastern States to put up with this sort of discrimination!
WA should be doing EVERYTHING THEY CAN to make visiting their state a worthwhile experience??
Many of the people I talk to are on a Pension or are Self Funded Retirees who are cash strapped due to low interest rates!
Goodbye WA! I will be spending all my money in the Eastern States where most towns welcome you to stay and spend your money locally!!
It is a concern the amount of issues for caravanners in the South West of WA that are pointed at locals. I think it’s an area I would choose to avoid.
We were very happy to find this RV stop over, having been at Brunswick Junction caravan park and having to leave as full for Easter. Yes we were there last Easter and about the 3rd ones there. 2 vans were Eastern staters. We were unaware of the van limit until the ranger arrived following a complaint from a local. There was hodge potch parking as more vans and motor homes arrived but none encroached on community areas eg the sports oval.
On the positive side the RSL hall adjacent to the site had the largest contingent of visitors ever, and sold out their meals. They were not complaining.