Grey nomads and other campers look set to be permanently banned from camping at Dumaresq Dam near Armidale in New South Wales.
The area has long been a popular free camping spot but, when the septic toilet system there broke down, the Armidale Dumaresq Council started considering other options.
Initially, it was thought it would introduce a nominal camping fee, and the council’s big decision was whether it would to install an honesty box, appoint a caretaker to collect the cash, or ask campers to drive into the Armidale Visitor Centre to pay.
However, it now appears that all of these options have been ruled out in favour of erecting ‘No Camping’ signs.
The Armidale Express newspaper reports that councillors considered setting up an ecotourism facility in the spot. That venture would apparently have cost ratepayers about $27,300 a year, with about $23,200 of that being recouped with camping and licence fees.
However, they have seemingly opted for the cheaper option of maintaining the facility exclusively for Armidale residents and their visitors. That will cost about $12,250 a year to maintain.
Currently, council officers pick up about 13 tonnes of unsorted waste from the grounds, making about 98 visits a year.
There were fears within council that if it were to allow camping, the toilet facilities would not be able to cope with the expected 30 campers a day.
The new management plan for Dumaresq Dam is tipped to be adopted at a full council meeting later this month. It will call for expressions of interest for a business to hire kayaks and canoes and also for special events to be held on site, subject to them gaining prior approval.
Do you understand why the council looks set to make this decision? Would introducing a $5 camping fee have been a better option that banning camping altogether? Comment below.
Yep, we will just by pass the town now. The septic reason is a crock. Are they going to stop all the day trippers that are going to these so called new events from using the loos?, i think not.
I personally have not visited Dumaresq Dam but the shame of it is that the so called campers in general whilst using the towns generous free camping also bring income into shops and various outlets within the town. Hairdressers, Dentists, Doctors, Stores etc. I resided in a fairly large town and the town relied on the holiday seasons, especially, to bring in that income that kept them afloat in low season. I would suggest a town vote myself. Some outlets may not be able to survive otherwise.
Well it Looks Like another major country town/city is about to lose out..
So I sort of wonder what the impact on the Local shop’s will be like..
It’s going to be a shame that A Small number of People [the council] are going to cost the Local business a slice of the Grey Nomad income from people staying in the area..
J
Will give Armidale a miss, have my personal blacklist of councils who seem intent on chasing us out of our own country why spend money in towns who don’t welcome us when so many country towns go out of there way to cater for nomads these are the towns we should spend our pensions in.
we camped there many years ago, nice spot, this is going to be happening all over Australia, there were some great campsites north of Carnarvon in W.A. but they have gone also I believe some of the old areas now have eco tents on them and cost quiet a lot, guess the councils want to cash in on the Nomads trade also, if the caravan parks were to have basic sites, no frills just clean amenities at a reasonable cost for the likes of us they would get a lot more in, we do not want all the bells and whistles of the family holiday type parks any way sometimes it is cheaper to go to a motel than a cabin in a caravan park The world has gone crazy and greed seems to be the rule of the day.
I fully agree with Freehazza, the van’s that travel all the time are self contained, and we do not require to use the loo’s as most of us have them already taking our rubbish etc with us. Council wants to make big bucks on very low budget. Day trippers ha ha still need to use the loo’s more so for the children.
Another town to pass through and spend nothing…septic problems pffft – put a dump point in and collect a small fee…most free campers are fine with rubbish it’s only a few that spoil it for everyone else…and good luck with the day visitors – in my experience day visitors are the worst rubbish throwers – great council – taking away from the towns business…
As I read this article, I am currently camped in van at a council approved / designated camp ground neat the wharf at Kingston In south Australia. Many councils including the East Gippsland Shire (Lakes Entrance) Victoria, could learn a lot from what Kingston has done. South Oz you will see more of my hard earned dollars in the future.
I must admit that as the cost of fuel goes up and councils close more places in NSW and QLD that as a Victorian SA looks more and more the place to go to.
looks like we wont go there either so if they want us they will have to make some arrangements with us and its not the nomads who leave a mess around they better look at charging day trippers a rubbish fee because thats is where all the rubbish comes from
I camped at the Dam in my self contained Fifth Wheeler for two weeks, a couple of years ago. I spent over $1500 in the town. I don’t think these councils realise how much we inject into their area.
Been there – done that – not going back to that dam!! Besides the dilapidated toilet, the area was loud and noisy with day trippers in the water and the park (expected as it is a public area). Not a place for greynomads to relax and enjoy happy hour anyway!! One day these greedy towns (and caravan parks) will realise the valuable asset of the over 600,000 travellers – but it’s too late for Armidale, word it out!!
Armidale ? Best thing they did was put a by-pass around it. There are other RV friendly spots close by and they get our vote and $$.
This appears to be the Dam Site and not the river front which is some 2km out of town. Toilets seem to be a problem only for RV’s not classed as caravans ie cars, utes, kombie type vehicles and day trippers who do not carry portable toilets and most could care less. These are the ones that cause the concerns for Councils. Fees do nothing for the travelling Grey Nomads – Some towns may suffer if nomads bypass because of proposed free camp closure. Texas QLD river front free camp is a great spot and has a large rubbish bin for us to use – thanks and I have spent over $500.00 in the town on shopping, meals and fitting of electrical devices to car and caravan. Careful consideration by Council is required. perhaps large signs stating vehicles with toilets and removal of rubbish only to be allowed to camp. Unfortunately, many without toilets still use these camps to the detriment of the caring campers. Maybe council spot checks should be considered.
Short term $$$ gain, sounds like a classic case of inept public servants making decisions with minimal experience or thought about the broader impact. I wonder if the financial comparisons prepared by council included the inevitable loss of tourist/nomad dollars.
Another free camp gone, probably not caused by the nomads but mainly day tripper, make me wonder on these decision what wrong with the council asking the Chambers of Commerse will it affect there trade before making these rash decisions
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yes, we are all getting quite a collection of towns to bypass.We to use that spot and usually spend our dollars in town.Have a motto to try and leave a place a little cleaner etc than we found it and we also are totally self sufficent,so dont use there bloody toilet.It seems you dont have to be very bright to be on the council or at least have any common sense. Bundaberg is another place that has been added to our list, not only for not being rv friendly but for blantant ripp offs.At a park just down the track at Burrum Heads, attended a large happy hour of about 24 seems nearly all had some gripe about bundy, mainly ripped off, so that should help there very poor tourist industry.Like i said in other posts they had us but drove us away. Same councils will spend thousands of rate payers dollars in the future to try and entice us back. Sorry too old and set in my ways now for that crap. cheers stevo.