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Victoria reveals amended riverfront camping rules

Published: September 3, 2021

The Victorian Government has released some of the rules it will put in place for the new campsites it is to introduce on the state’s Crown land river frontages … and there are some concessions to the concerned farmers who licence the spots.

The Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP) has confirmed it has changed some of the draft regulations to address landholders’ concerns.

The ABC reports that the government is yet to reveal the locations of 27 campsites along the Loddon, Campaspe, Broken, Goulburn and Ovens Rivers in north and north-eastern Victoria.

More sites on other fishing rivers around the state will be progressively assessed and opened to campers in the next 18 months. 

Among the modified rules, the government has announced it will half the number of nights campers can stay at one site from 28 to 14. There will be no camping allowed within 20 metres of the river and within 200 metres of a home.

The ABC reports other rules include: 

• No dogs allowed
• Do not enter or cross private land without permission
• Leave any gate as found
• Do not interfere with or disturb livestock
• Portable toilets must be at least 50 metres from the waterway (and not on private property)
• If not disposed of in a portable toilet, human waste and toilet paper must be buried more than 100 metres from the waterway (and not on private property)
• All rubbish and belongings must be taken with you on departure.
• Campfires permitted in some designated areas. Check the rules for each area
• Firewood collection is prohibited
• No cutting, felling, picking, damaging or destroying vegetation, alive or dead.

Even though the government regulations allow for camping on licenced Crown river frontages from yesterday, the proposed sites are yet to be assessed for vegetation and Aboriginal cultural heritage.

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