It seems that the NSW town of Coffs Harbour has joined the coastal communities who have decided enough is enough when it comes to illegal camping … but, to some extent, its hands are tied.
For many months, people in caravans, campervans, motorhomes and tents have been a highly visible presence on land at the Jetty Foreshores.
Of course, the issue has been exacerbated by an influx of travellers over the festive period, creating what Coffs Harbour City Council described as a ‘pinch point’. However, the authority’s options to respond are surprisingly limited.
The land used by illegal free campers is in large part managed by State Government agency, Property and Development NSW, which means council rangers have no jurisdiction to move people on.
The Jetty Foreshores has been filled with campers in recent weeks and months. PIC: Cizza
“It’s a perennial issue, and one faced by many coastal communities, but the City has been constrained as the illegal camping at the Jetty Foreshores has been taking place primarily on state-owned land,” City of Coffs Harbour Mayor, Cr Paul Amos, said.
Nonetheless, the council says it has increased patrols for illegal camping on City-managed land at the Jetty Foreshores providing verbal warnings and handing out warning notices, and issuing fines where illegal campers have not complied.
Council rangers have been active despite the limitations – handing out 80 warning notices to campers/vehicles on City-managed land at the foreshores just before Christmas.
On City-managed land, rangers gave out 30 verbal and 14 formal warning notices over the Christmas-New Year period, and 15 fines were issued. City of Coffs Harbour’s Acting General Manager, Andrew Beswick, said rangers will continue to actively patrol the City-managed land – including over the weekend – and issue fines where appropriate.
It’s understood Property and Development NSW is assessing signage and fencing options on the land it manages at the Jetty.
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If we made provision for overnight stays or maybe couple days like for instance the stop we had at Kingston SA for travellers it would benefit our town Coffs Harbour is not friendly to travelling caravanners and many people bypass our beautiful town. Kingston have a small donation for use of toilets
Where are all the new caravans going to go in the future. Parks are being occupied by permanents, no public housing being built. You can’t book into a coastal park in the South of Australia in January.
People book from year to year, some for over 30 years. Councils are going to have to open overflow areas to cater for the excess of caravans. If you don’t provide areas for caravans to park, they will stealth park. The campervans do it now. Broome in WA has overflow parks. SDA, pistol club and up until a few years ago PCYC. Most caravanners aren’t freeloaders, they will pay a donation.
My council, Busselton City Council is the meanest council in the Southwest of WA. No free camping in the council area at all.
We live on the Mornington Peninsula, one of the main tourist destinations of Victoria.
Its 723sq kms in area with a 190km long coastline.
All of it is controlled by the Mornington Peninsula Shire Council.
It has no free camps whatsoever & no community donation RV stopovers.
It has one public dump point for the whole area.