Queensland’s Gold Coast has long history of having to deal with large numbers of illegal campers, an issue which has been made more sensitive by a dramatic rise in homelessness.
The council there recently adopted a Place-Based Management Approach to homelessness, which means an increased patrols in public spaces.
The authority told the Grey Nomads that City officers will use a combination of local law enforcement and coordinated engagement with homelessness support services when required.
It says, with this approach, the City’s role remains centred on public space management and compliance with local laws while also strengthening engagement with the homelessness service system and relevant State Government agencies.
Many authorities are seeking ways to clamp down on stealth camping. PIC: Cizza
The Gold Coast is currently recruiting more staff to carry out this work with the number of City Laws Officers on night-time patrols expected to double in the coming months.
A spokesperson told the Grey Nomads that, as well as homelessness, illegal camping also includes people sleeping in or staying overnight in a tent or motor vehicle within public spaces or carparks.
“A review of parking restrictions to stop illegal camping will commence in the new year,” they said. “People who are found camping illegally or sleeping in vehicles on roads or parks are educated about appropriate places to sleep before being asked to move on … if the person is a repeat offender a fine may be issued to each adult in the vehicle worth $834.”
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Its people trying 2 be safe because they have no other option we travel extensively and on occasions CANT FIND A PAID SITE with so much caravaning occurring nowadays, its the big rich bully towns like the Gold Coast and Noosa that hassle these people choosing a different lifestyle that are bullied for no reason other than a money grab and entitled whingers
Disgusting! council kicking people when they’re down. How about creating some free or cheap council campgrounds on land that belongs to the people. Too bad homeless dont get to vote
Agreed
I know it can get out of control, and that there is a genuine need to somehow address this, but i don’t think this is a good response.
It deals with fruit and not the Root of the problem, and will only make life harder for those already struggling.
OK, so I own a van and 99% of the time i stealth camp. I won’t stay in public carparks or beach front and so I don’t get noticed.
BUT I have such an issue with all levels of government – moving the homeless on. Like where to? I think the government’s want the homeless to suicide / not exist anymore. Homelessness is not the individuals fault but rather a serious sign that society is crumbling. Most people are a couple of pays from being homeless. Albo must go….
Stealth camped and will continue – not necessarily the Gold Coast. $80+ per night is ridiculous for 1x adult and self-contained vehicle.
They are well ahead of you. They will find ways to camp safely. Property owners will make a few dollars by allowing them to camp in their yards.. then council etc will invent bylaws to make that an offence. Just fix the problem at it’s core. i.e Find safe grounds for camping. It’s not going to stop given the cost of living and people living in cars, they are not a useless mob of bums, they are unfortunate n got displaced due to greedy landlords.
A number of progressiveTowns/Cities provide for 24 or 48 hour stays in set parks, often the local oval or similar, particularly for the fully self catered vans and free. They apparently believe it is good to cater for travellers and brings business to their centres. Why would not the GGC consider the same?
I’m angry that council are trying to force people to pay to sleep…they’ll never stop us.
Do they want us to drive tired, or drive when we’ve had a few drinks watching the sunset???
There is a very good argument here.
If you are travelling from A to B and become tired, we are told to rest. What if there is no hotel near by? I don’t believe police or local councils can move you on if you are simply sleeping in your car. Actively choosing to park your RV or caravan or “van life” vehicle near the beach in a public car park for a week is of course another matter. For the homeless this may be a last resort and I agree with others that low cost, government run campgrounds supplying toilet and shower facilities for $10 per night seems like a fair and compassionate solution.
If there is a risk of driver fatigue on a long trip, the road safety authorities encourage people to take a nap on the roadside before continuing their journey. Does this now constitute illegal camping?