A NSW council will vote this afternoon on whether or not to adopt a new draft Plan of Management for some of its reserves … with suggestions of occasional camping notably absent.
Eurobodalla Shire on the South Coast of NSW put its draft plan of management for Hanging Rock, Corrigans Beach and Observation Point Reserve sites near Batemans Bay on public exhibition back in January, and received nearly a dozen submissions.
The council said the majority of public objections were related to the camping aspect of the plan.
“Submissions objected to all forms of camping in relevant reserves and referenced in the draft plan, including short-term event-related, occasional and emergency camping,” council documents said.
Councillors will vote on the draft Plan of Management today. PIC: Cizza
“Concerns identified in these submissions centred around two main themes – the impact of event-related camping on existing accommodation providers; and the communities perceived concerns around short-term and emergency related camping activities being extended to homelessness and potential antisocial behaviours resulting from this.”
The council said it had several telephone conversations and a site meeting with one accommodation provider, and the relevant references to these activities were then amended in the draft Plan of Management and Master Plan.
“Short-term event related and occasional camping at both Hanging Rock and Corrigans Beach Reserves was either removed or references to this activity were amended in relevant sections of the draft POM and master plan to clarify that this activity is restricted to and for the purpose of ‘enabling 24-hour on-site accommodation for event security purposes during events within Hanging Rock and Corrigans Beach Reserve in association with an event’ and not permitted by event attendees or for casual camping.”
References to ‘emergency related camping’ also had supplementary information added to clarify that this activity:
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Um, nearly a dozens of submissions? Probably all from caravan parks, it would be interesting to know.
I feel for Councils all around Australia, little towns with caravan parks in non “touristy” areas are not that expensive and usually some distance out of the town area there are “free camps” for people who prefer a real camping experience.
Coastal camping areas near or close by towns are prime sites for caravan parks and they become both a political and economic problem for the Councils.
In the Livingstone Shire, Central Queensland (Yeppoon/Emu Park), we two beachside caravan parks owned by the council and at the moment nearly full every day plus a number of other CP’s privately owned.
The 2 LSC parks are out sourced to managers on a lease basis.
Out west of us, some Councils have overflow areas where you can camp if the towns caravan park(s) are full.
We have to realise the fact of caravanning/camping really has become a product of politica and economics.
Thing is these places attract those who don’t use caravan parks for various reasons, without these sorts of camp areas they don’t stop and visit, if like us we don;t even bother going to the coast, too expensive, too crowded being the main reasons………………………. since we live on the coast I can also see how checks are needed to keep these places from getting semi permanents staying on and the backpackers making them a tip….
Of course the vanparks would’nt have anything to do with it?