The council crackdown on illegal campers in Queensland’s the Noosa area continues.
In the latest blitz, 20 more fines have been issued to travellers doing the wrong things at the popular Sunshine Coast holiday spot.
Just a week ago, council rangers handed out $322 fines to more than 30 illegal campers.
The latest blitz with Queensland Police focused on eastern beaches hotspots, including Victory Park at Peregian Beach, where residents are reporting large numbers of campers gathering and leaving a mess.
“Information from locals about where the campers are congregating, dumping rubbish and using parks and gardens as toilets continues to guide our enforcement efforts, both jointly with police and our own routine patrols,” Director of Regulation and Development Richard MacGillivray said.
Illegal campers in the Noosa area have been put on notice. PIC: Noosa Council
The weekend blitz also targeted Beach Access 50 at Peregian Beach and Tingira Crescent at Sunrise Beach.
Mr MacGillivray said Council was working on several fronts to curb illegal camping in response to community complaints.
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Our shire offers a range of campgrounds for travellers,” he said. “They are purpose built for campervans, offering powered sites, cooking facilities and importantly toilet and bathrooms facilities …. It’s at these facilities travellers should be parking up and camping overnight, not our streets.”
Noosa Council is also be expanding the 10pm-4am no-parking signage trial at Noosa Spit into other areas to curb illegal camping, including Victory Park and Beach Access 50 at Peregian Beach.
When rangers come across local people who are genuinely homeless and living in their cars because they have no other option, the council says it links them with local support agencies rather than issue fines.
“It’s the illegal campers seeking a cheap holiday and think it’s ok to leave a mess, disrespect our environment and monopolise our parking areas for long periods who we are targeting,” said Mr MacGillivray.
And he said there were a range of avenues open to Council to ensure the $333 fines are paid.
“International visitors aren’t exempt from paying the fines,” he said. “If they don’t pay, there are means of pursuing that debt through the State Penalties Enforcement Registry (SPER) and can be flagged with immigration as they attempt to leave or re-enter the country.”
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Great work by the shire.
Stealth camping should be punished severely.
No excuses, including the old “I’ve taken my medication & can’t drive” excuse.
I don’t think there should be free camping anywhere, and $50 per night minimum for tents sites, $100 for powered sites elsewhere should be the norm. We are a very rich nation and we can all afford it.
Are you going out for camping? What about a 30-day camp trip at, as you say, for $100 per day to park your vehicle, use a toilet, and have a shower. Thats $3,000 a month for “parking accommodation“. Additionally, around $100 per day for food and some fuel costs. That’s $6,000 a month for this 30-day holiday trip on top of other commitments. Do you really think that young people, backpackers, and families with kids can afford this? Well, yes, for some there is an easy saying: if you can’t afford it, don’t do it. The facts are, Australia is a travelling country. A million people are on the road exploring the country. Most free camps are full and occupied by travellers who could really spend the $100 for a caravan park day. What do you think, why is this so?
The travelling industry has to hardly think over and adjust to the facts. Most travellers I met avoid going to caravan parks. They are too expensive, booking in advance eliminates adventure travelling, tight parking spots, kids’ playgrounds, and unwanted entertainment, etc.
I prefer free camps or low-cost camps like they used to be at sports grounds. More freedom, more space, spontaneous travelling. The sports grounds have already installed facilities and used to be very affordable at $10. We need these free or low-cost camp sites with minimal proper-serviced facilities like a toilet and a rubbish bin provided, and people will do the right thing. When entering a town, there are some signs, “RV friendly”. Why not “Travellers welcome“? Include everyone who travels. Provide a low or no-cost space for 48 to 72 hours with proper and serviced facilities; visitors will spend money in town. Most towns have a sports ground, and they have to be maintained anyway. I can only hardly understand why all of a sudden these places have to be so expensive?
Yes, Australia is a ridge nation, but this doesn’t mean everybody is at that level.
A million travellers on the road, adjust to it and not against it.