Many coastal councils are patrolling areas like public car parks. PIC: Cizza
With travellers heading north in big numbers at this time of the year, the issue of illegal camping is rising to prominence in many coastal communities.
In the north Queensland city of Cairns, the council’s Illegal Camping Patrols have just started again, and the authority says early results are showing the effectiveness of a visible compliance presence.
In his monthly statement, Cairns Regional Council CEO, Ken Goulthorp, said that on the first day of patrols, officers identified 21 campers at the Stratford boat ramp. However, following engagement and enforcement actions, two days later patrols could not see any campers in the same areas.
“This highlights the value of a consistent on-ground presence in encouraging compliance and resolving issues in a timely manner,” Mr Goulthorp said. “Patrols will continue to be undertaken across known locations to help manage illegal camping and support appropriate use of public spaces.”
The council says visitors are not permitted to camp on council-controlled land including roadsides, the Esplanade, cemeteries, public parks, car parks, sporting grounds, drainage reserves and beaches. It defines camping to include people staying overnight in vehicles, campervans, RVs, tents, hammocks and swags.
People found camping illegally can receive a $834 on-the-spot fine.
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This is a disgrace the cou councils are trying to raise money. I for one will give Cairns a big miss.
Us too !! Site fees do not need to be above $30 a night and even at that rate, they’re making money. We don’t use anywhere near even ten dollars worth of electricity and water so what is the balance for ??
Profit, profit and more profit.
Rates, public liability insurance, staff, maintenance, power, interest on their loan/mortgage and probably some I have missed. Not just power and water costs.
Councils don’t pay rates or for mortgages on their own land.
Well said council greedy
Maybe there needs to be lower cost parks for permanent occupancy. As for the overnighters pushing their luck free camping illegally there are caravan parks and low cost camps south of cairns we use , no sympathy from me .
Correct south of Cairns and up the hill on Table lands
So sad to NEVER AGAIN stop at Cairns in the future. Plenty of good places to stop instead. UP YOURS CAIRNS COUNCIL.
Voting with our wallets helps change bureaucrats perspectives once their jobs and future are threatened.
I think the main problem is that illegal campers not only never open their own wallets, but expect long-suffering locals to subsidise their lifestyles
Spot on Tony!
Totally agree
How do we subsidise their lifestyles?
So you think a couple of old pensioners trying to finally see the country on the cheap are sponging of locals shame on you
It’s not a lifestyle, there are no places to rent. Obviously you don’t live in reality
Reality, Funny but true
Why not just camp at a low cost cp. We have a caravan and always respect a towns rules.
people DON’T choose to be homeless and live in a car I hope all the stuck up Rich people one day loose everything and go to the minimum wage and realise you do earn enough for a cheap rental in a low social economic area because $1000 a week does not qualify you for a rental you can only RENT to the value of $300 PLEASE show me if there is affordable rentals in this country’
Crock of crap. It’s largely about of removing competition by closing and monitoring free and low cost
areas so that parks can charge premium rates. Cairns is a glairing example. Spend your time and money away from this anti-competitive town wherever you can.
Yes I totally agree, when I travel with on the pension, I can’t afford to pay for these exspencive parks. But I do buy groceries and take away. Cairns isn’t on my list anymore.
I’m at lake Clarendon near Gatton and they r trying to get rid of the homeless people there but I am more then happy to know that if they kick the homeless out we all got to go camping on there front grass
I can understand the Council’s view. We have lay by sites in the NT that are provided with water, wheelie bins and a bush dunny-but when you see rubbish strewn around the site, bushes festooned with toilet paper and obvious squatting spots then you must agree with the council. Campers must lift their game.
What an absolute joke. Well before doing that and giving such a big fine, I think you council’s all need to wake the f… up to yourselves and have a look a the rapidly growing housing crisis across the whole of Australia. I get what your trying to do. But open more caravan parks and places people can stay. Because its not easy finding available places to stay. But then you all crap on about lowering road accidents and fatalities but you are forcing everyone to keep driving. Who care if people are stuffed and need a sleep from driving hey.
Wake up all you moron council and government. Its all your fault for the reason people are having to stay and live like that. Because all you tricks are worried about is who much money goes in your pockets.
I wouldn’t like to see how Australia ends up in another 30 years.
Australia has turned from a country that helps each other, into a country that just trying to get as much as they can out of each other with out a care in the world. Caring about each other and helping each other went out the window with common sense.
So very true , everything is just about money these days , All greed ..next thing will be u have to pay to go to public toilet
Good News. I wish that more Councils would do the same.
It’s nothing but money grab , for over priced caravan parks, now called holiday parks.
Agree with second part, maybe add “tourist” park, anything but caravan
Unfortunately you can mainly blame backpackers and arrogant GREY NOMADS for these crack downs by councils. Those who complain are some of the worse offenders.
The rubbish left behind, the noise and arrogance is why the crack down.
As i fellow Grey nomad i do understand the over priced of van/camping grounds but why do you have to spread your camp over a large area and hang your washing everywhere and then leave your rubbish. It is totally disgraceful so don’t complain about the crack down by councils.
You are SPOT ON!!
Very true Michael all of east coast unfortunately
I also have a gripe with Backpackers in general, particularly (but not confined to) those from overseas. For decades now I have observed the general mess and lack of responsibility from too many Backpackers. They pull in to budget camps late, leave early and discard their rubbish. Often park up at the Car Park areas – technically outside the camp area, but still use the facilities. Some will walk behind a toilet and squat – leave their mess and paper! On the other hand most genuine Grey Nomads, while careful with a quid – and many don’t pay, they seldom leave a mess. As a GN I would not travel if I was expected to pay top dollar to park within a metre of someone else every night at excessive rates. I am not including the genuine homeless, however the Australian Social Security system is generous. There is no excuse for the “homeless” to live basically in squalor at any site.
Good, more councils should follow suit. Freeloaders clogging up parks and parking, leaving rubbish strewn everywhere. Human waste.
Of course that’s not all free loaders, but enough to make it unpalatable for the majority of users of these facilities. Ie rate payers and paying travellers and tourists.
Can’t believe the sense of entitlement by some comments here. Pay your way or stay home. Simple.
What if you haven’t got a home?
What if your vehicle is your home?
Yeah, simple solution that doesn’t work! Must be nice living in a nice house where you don’t offend anyone…
I agree with you 100% Paul. I’m an old, old age pensioner. I’ve been living in my AU Falcon and 8×5 trailer for several years. it can be tough with no viable options available.
Then go to a low cost campsite, heaps around but not the waterfront spot that most seem to want.
300 a week for patch of grass FFS Nice
Just because you use your vehicle etc as a home doesn’t give you the right to free lodgings. Everyone has to contribute to society or it falls apart.
I pay my taxes, so it is not ‘free’ lodgings.
I couldn’t agree more. You’ve hit the nail on the head there.
Who the hell do council think they are? Who gave the council the right to just take land and wherever they want and take ownership? Where would the pathetic councils like homeless people to go??? Just drift off into thin air i suppose. So bloody pathetic. I would live to see every moron in government and council to have no money, no job, no car, no where to live and see where they would go. Take all our tax money they have taken from us off them. Leave them with nothing the pathetic leeching morons.
Its ridiculous, when I was a young man we could camp on the esplanade in many places there were toilets and showers now its become un Australian to not let people camp a few nights and giving out $800 fines is a disgrace the Cairns city council should hang their heads in shame.
I’m 70 next year, and while we remember those ‘Halcyon Days’, the World and its people have changed. Not necessarily for the better. I travel for a living , seeing what goes on first hand. The behavior of a large percentage of ‘campers’ would sicken and disgust most normal people.
I have just read with amusement and sadness the many comments criticizing Cairns Council
You have free camping at a lovely site on the river at Gordonvale as well as other regional areas—we ratepayers provide and pay for these.
Residents pay for car parks, rubbish bins and maintenance along foreshores in towns, please remember that they were never created for free campers
I am sorry but if you are a pensioner and can’t afford a caravan park or won’t go to a free site that is not by the beach—- maybe you shouldn’t be travelling
The rubbish and litter that free campers leave is well documented Australia wide
Things that are free have little value to a lot of people
Pay your way, try shorter holidays, don’t expect to stay in prime spots without paying and we can all enjoy each other
There is heaps of work up here as if you want it!
Well done summary of the situation, I guess we all need to a reality check !
Some people have no choice. Rubbsh is left because there are no bins to put it in. I just read another article about a charity that provided a skip bin to a homeless community. People used it because it was there. The council sent the charity a letter ‘educating’ then about the fact it was illegal to put a bin on council land.
So basically, if you’re unfortunate enough to find yourself homeless it’s no win either way. Also no win for charities that try to help.
The landscape of the homeless community has changed… it is no longer what it once was … now it is young working families with children, it’s everyday people working low income jobs that are vital … jobs to put food on your table, who look after the elderly, who serve you at the store, who fix your cars and clean your homes and build your houses. It’s single parents raising children the best they can on one income. It’s so so many things and there are so many contributing factors
But at the end of the day when working families can’t even secure a home, it means the system is failing. Like you they pay taxes. Those taxes support the government that failed them.
Ellem
So there is no rubbish bin,s? must be a hard decission not to take your rubbish with you…..a high % of national parks you have to take your rubbish with you
Good point Lindsay. Got free camps near mackay and bludgers sook about em. Cant afford to travel then dont.
It’s all about The Love of Money, Greedy , The People pay , Taxes, on Everything you can think about. (If I Was CEO I would let Vans Tents, Everything that was on wheels to be Free Spots ,400 Vans say (, Cairns needs Travellers ) To Spend on the Travelling, that brings Money to all , Petrol Drinks, Food , Hotels, Drive Through, it’s not long Before the travelling People Pay, The Councils are Very Greedy, Most On $1300 Week , I Live In Regional Victoria our rates are so High they should give people 6 Payments, but no you Get 4 and Lump it .Everywhere you go it’s People Vs Council, Now for towns and Prices they are To expensive, the people travelling pay Petrol, Food, A nice bottle of Wine , They Need Sir-ton Goods all the time they have a budget, just like the Council staff , word of Mouth is Power amongst travellers, And you Certainly don’t have Conflict, with people who Travel. As Word of Mouth Travels Fast
A Supporter of Council, Talk Rubbish)
Hi John
I am disappointed to read your views
You are clearly confused on the issue
I am retired and have never worked for a council in my life
I have however done lots of volunteer work
Cheers
Well thought out and correct. I have no issue with people camping free in free camping spots, or in discreet areas, but when they set up a full camp-site with washing lines etc, in a beach carpark, they’re looking for premium location with great views. The facilities are for people visiting for the day, not staying a week. Port Douglas Four Mile is a great example.
Everything revolves around the holier than you dollar
There’s no rentals in Cairns or anywhere in Australia if you earn $1000 a week because they go of 30% of your income which = $300 a week please lmk if there’s a rental NOT shared accommodation and I’ll sign a lease.Every caravan Park is booked out $55 -$75 a night for 6×3 meter tent site pub accommodation is $90 a night a dodgy druggo motel is $130 a night. If there wasn’t any extra 1.5 million immigrants that turn up in the last 3 years All on CENTRE LINK payments free Uni courses and hand outs off the government there would be affordable housing what a Great country Australia is…….
Well put mate
Councils should look at their own performance first. Are they really acting in the best interest of their ratepayers. Rangers generally go for the low hanging fruit. Control the dog’s, they are interfering in our daily lives and being a dam nuisance on our beaches. Caravan Parkes are now often more expensive than motels and sometime block access to beaches and rivers. Town planners need to control this.
If caravan parks weren’t charging such ridiculous rates like $350+ p/w for a bare 5x10m powered site the problem would not a problem. The councils need to provide a cost effective safe site for all the itinerant workers to go
I’m sick of people feeling they are entitled to free camping
Ratepayers have to pay big rates to be near the ocean yet free campers take the good locations right on the water and pay nothing
Rates are based on VG which is based on location and services provided
So the free campers take the great location and get the same services as ratepayers
Even having their toilets cleaned for them by ratepayers money
We have a camping ground where campers pay to stay and free campers came later refusing to pay
Security had to be hired to stop physical altercations
Illegal campers leave lots of rubbish when moved on
Again ratepayers pay
If councils want to pay for free campers give your ratepayers a break on their rates
I pay $8000/ year in rates
So why don’t I get my rates reduced to help me
How miserable! I live in Cairns and I’m ashamed of Council! Why not let them camp in the showground for a small fee? Not everyone can afford expensive hotels, but it seems they’re the only tourists they want.
Unortunately i don’t own a house but do own a self contained motorhome. I cant afford the very high prices these caravan parks charge for a small peice of grass(if your lucky).
My motorhome is self contained and I have a priority never to leave rubbish behind when I leave.
My heart goes out to those homeowners that find themselves waking up in the morning to find a caravan blocking their views however please have some thought for those not as fortunate as you as a home owner.
I appreciate there is small percentage of homeless give all of us a bad name but they are in the minority, there the people the Council should be charging.
Maybe they should think about opening more area’s to accommodate campers instead of persecuting people. Those in charge would sing a different tune if they were homeless. I’ve lived under a roof for six years since 2012 the rest of the time I was homeless living in tents in my car wherever I could. I’m 64 now and I still help the homeless out giving them a feed they can have a shower.having safe place to sleep really helps them knowing that they are not being harassed or raped, bashed or robbed.
Just have a check in check out system using cameras and contact rangers if Thier is issue or charge like 5 doller in the hot spots to park up for 12 HR upon arrival / check in if ranger gets u not complying baam much more hefty fine
Seams fair same system bigger reward higher respect turnover I’d look at Aires in France for inspiration
Otherwise yeah just another reason to turn away tourism
A $834 fine, I just don’t get this govt or Local councils anymore, they make so much money revenue raising and increased fines that it’s ludicrous, we not the lucky country no more by a long shot, Imagine camping near the beach, paying through the nose prices for Alcohol, food and petrol, having a good night kicking back enjoying the beach and doing some car camping having some drinks and a feed and in the next morning copping a fine like that after having to pay through the nose for food alcohol and petty…..this countries fines and taxes and living expenses has gone into the realm of offensive and just down right rude and obnoxious…..where did Australia go so bloody wrong with everything, talk about a money orientated and greedy tax and goods and services in this place, we got biggest tax on alcohol and cigarettes it’s insane, dining bars and restaurants is offensive for the prices of alcohol due to govt tax, petrol and diesel goes up like shit it’s offensive, someone gotta sort this Govt out, Victoria is in so much debt from Dan Andrews and Allen and they still haven’t done Airport rail link, farkin nonsense as they hike up the taxes to pay back billions dollar debt where in in Victoria, bloody he’ll what’s going on in this joint, farkin rubbish is what it is….
Why bother visiting Qld, so many other lovely places on Oz to visit
My with and i were about to head to Cairns for our very first time ever, in our 70s we don’t have huge budget so were counting on free camp sites around Cairns. Not now going to stay inland, shove it Cairns council
No excuses you pay to stay as a traveller how dare you think you are exempt you are well aware of the rules if you choose to visit abide by the law. We all pay to live where we do and travel why do you think the law does not include you. You roll the dice if you get caught out own up and cop the fine. Fuckers
It’s one thing for people who have nowhere to go, but as a sometimes camper who has worked and travelled from my own van, I get annoyed when I see buses or vans with all their chairs , bikes, furniture permanently set up like they own the place, and take up several highly used parking spaces near the seaside. They build up a sense of confidence like they’re untouchable. Their arrogant behaviour ruins it for all others. What’s new!
The people that move these people on, whether homeless or travellers , are just jealous .. open low cost parkes then..
Australia is a vast country, plenty of empty land available. Councils SHOULD provide areas for short stays, its not as if we DON’T have the available land.
We’ve got to get out of this mentality of Prohibiting things because of a Minority…
Allow the majority who follow rules, clean up after themselves and are decent people…
And PUNISH those few who leave garbage behind, damage infrastructure or overstay their welcome…
Even our Constitution allows Australians the RIGHT to Roam Freely…how can we uphold that if we dont have the right to stop and sleep when we are tired…???
To the BORING DO GOODERS…to those old enough to remember…we used to have far fewer rules, and we managed…today, this group or that group wants to ban skateboards, another, scooters, others e-bikes, others fishing, pellet guns, sling shots, knives, trail bikes, 4wd vehicles,jet skis, etc…
We have Laws….those who overstep…who dont respect others rights…who harm others…THEY cop the FULL BRUNT of the law….THEY PAY THE PRICE…NOT US…
The spit on the Gold Coast , has become inhabited by the homeless, folks , the council could provide a few more large rubbush bins , for them to put the rubbush in , this would give the opertunity to
Do THe Right Thing “
I don’t camp, I just pull over to the side of the road and sleep in my van, if I’m too tired to drive anymore.
It seems heartless to move on genuine homeless people but they should not expect to fill up prime beachside parks and parking.
Also the excuse of leaving rubbish because there are no bins is bullshit. Take it with you till you find a bin.
It is obvious that there should be more done at all levels of government to come up with a solution for homeless people.
As for tourists pay your way or use legitimate free camps. As for greedy tourist operators i hope you lose everything .
We spend plenty of money at servos, cafes, supermarkets and attractions when we stop at places. If we,re not welcome, we,ll spend our money elsewhere.
We regularly park overnight or a few days at golf clubs, council showgrounds, some vineyards, hotels, roadhouses and other similar locations that support travelers. Most of them require you to be self-contained, some have water and power available, some allow you to use their amenities whilst they are open. Some charge a small amount eg 10 to 20 $ and others ask you to support them and have a drink or a meal. We stay at caravan parks occasionally if no other option is available and we need access to wash clothes etc. We have always found a public dump point when needed. We have found, like others have, caravan parks that charge way too much, are overcrowded and sometimes we wonder how they survive in the hospitality industry.
council
need to do their job and leave people alone
Yeah well, I guess that’s one way to get rid of Australia’s tourists. The Council obviously do not give a rats about tourism or people doing it tough.
The emergency services will love that one when they pick up the pieces when people try driving on to avoid fines, when all they want to do is pull up and have a rest.
Unfortunately its mostly the overseas backpackers that have spoiled it for us all. I did a few trips during the covid years when they weren’t allowed in and the difference in cleanliness at roadside rest areas and other places was definitely noticeable.