This summer has once again been one in which the issue of travellers free camping in some of our reserves and car parks has sparked fierce debate, and no little angst.
At the heart of the matter has been the sense in some local communities that budget-minded tourists simply push the friendship too far and don’t show respect for their environment. Local papers up and down the coast have published images of backpackers sprawling their belongings around car parks, spitting out toothpaste on the ground, and leaving piles of litter. Stories of public urination – and worse – are also doing the rounds.
Many coastal towns are struggling to know what the best way to manage the ‘problem’ is. Port Macquarie on the New South Wales mid north coast will next month deliver the findings of its free camping management trial, which began last September in order to assist council in the development of a free camping management strategy.
“The trial includes a mix of research with free campers and local community, consultation with the tourism and accommodation industry, the provision of where to camp information and signage at known ‘free camping’ hotspots,” said Port Macquarie Hastings Council’s director of development and environment, Matt Rogers.
Judging by recent reports in the local newspaper, the Port Macquarie News, the trial hasn’t been an unmitigated success. The newspaper spoke to resident Kelly Beardsall, who walks along the town’s Shelly Beach every morning, and she said she was shocked at the number of people sleeping in their cars and vans at the car park.
“On Wednesday morning I counted 24 vehicles in the Shelly Beach car park, including a ute towing a caravan that took up eight spaces,” she said. “There were cars with people sleeping in them and campervans. That was at 6am.”
It seems that this resident, at least, draws a big distinction between young backpackers and more established travellers.
“Backpackers are strapped for cash, I understand, but it was pretty annoying that the whole car park was basically full with people trying to find a spot to stay,” Mrs Beardsall told the News. “However, when I see a relatively new car towing a relatively new caravan it makes me wonder why they could not use the caravan park which costs roughly $30 or $40 a night.”
The council is encouraging the community to report any evidence of damage to, or inappropriate use of, public spaces. The results of its management trial are being collated and will be considered at the March ordinary council meeting.
This group look like day trippers to me, as often they are , they have there gear all confined in there own car space , give the kids a go, if they do camp in car parks, they often camp a few together for safety ,
The caravan parks charge the same for a Wizz bang wagon as for a car and caravan with all the bells and whistles,( and some still grumble that the park owners have the bad grace to park them near there fancy rigs)
I have very ,very ,seldom seen Wizz bang Travellers leave a mess ,but I have seen lots of fancy outfits— with dogs leave a mess–
Perhaps councils could consider having a dedicated low cost camp area set aside in these car parks for overnight stays
G’day Narelle … I think maybe you haven’t travelled around the country a lot. My wife and I have been on the road for 2 years and have seen many of the backpackers in cars and vans. We’ve stayed at a lot of free sights and the rubbish that is left by them is not nice. I’ve never seen rubbish left by Grey Nomads after they have pulled out in the morning. We and a lot of Grey Nomads we have met even recycle our rubbish.
Cheers
Alby
with no camping signs now appearing on highway rest areas in nsw overnighters have little choice but to take a chance on finding a camp spot around town,one would think a dedicated low cost camp spot with rubbish bins & toilets would solve a few problems,having a “flash campervan”does’nt mean the owner is able to fork out $35 bucks every night to park in a paddock, most being pensioners or young people.Fair go camping is a way of life in oz closing rest areas camp spots & commons is more a step backwards rather than a solution.
How true, with no camping signs at rest area from Newcastle north in all the rest area, where do they think people are going too stop instead, all there done is forced them away from the highway into the local towns, maybe reopening the rest area might help ease the issue, even if they time limited it from 7pm to 7am at least that will give there somewhere on the highway to stop.
Opening up beach side car parks for self contained vehicles to stay o’night can stop a lot of theft & vandalism.
“I have very ,very ,seldom seen Wizz bang Travellers leave a mess ,but I have seen lots of fancy outfits— with dogs leave a mess–”
I don’t know where Narelle lives or how extensively she travels, but her experience doesn’t marry with mine. I am in my van full time and see much evidence of where back packers have been. And yes I am jealous of them, wish I had done their traveling in my younger years, It is great to see so many young overseas people enjoying our country. I simply would like it much better if they only left footprints so to say.
But to intimate no problem as Narelle seems to be doing is a little head in the sand I think.
terry
I have just travelled along The Great Ocean Road and checked out the sites along the pull-in areas to see the view.
Well the view was not just the coastline, but also the rubbish at each of these sites. You can’t tell me that the amount of rubbish is from pull-in, pull-out visitors, when plastic bags, paper (often tissue or toilet paper), drink bottles, rubbish in general, including a pair of Jocks, yes you read, a pair of Jocks, is from day trippers!
And yes a notation from someone, suggested that each of us should pick up the rubbish from camping areas and place it in a bin. Firstly where do you put unmentionables if you have an enclosed vehicle, which can include 4WDs and or caravans, and why would you want this rubbish within your environment when you don’t know what contamination it is been exposed to.
Along a well visited area, you would need many, many hands and a huge big truck following you, to pick up this rubbish that us HUMANS leave behind!
We live full time in our van and travel as retired grey nomads. It is true that many of the ‘pull-in’ bays now restrict campers… but defining ‘camping’ and ‘resting’ is a fine line. Every town should have a ‘free-camp/resting’ area. Every stop area or large public space should have a loo. The problem is the lack of these services which area obviously required. This lack is the consequence of authorities (local usually) who are trying to force travellers into often expensive holiday parks… wether they want a holiday or not. We have commonly found that in towns many councillors have personal interests in these parks.
Ultimately this problem is about resting travellers and recreational free camp area’s for travellers and locals to use short term. Loo’s and bins are an essential public facility … it is not rocket science. Caravan parks and holiday parks are for holidays… few can afford them full time/all the time. A lack of facilities offered by local councils, facilities which cater for travellers is the ‘elephant in the room.’
Oh so true Jan … a great comment
Cheers
Alby
So Narelle you want to give the young freeloaders a go but not the old retired taxpayers who have worked for over 50 years.
we have a good vehicle and caravan and we will overnight in stops along the road. As for Port Macquarie I wouldn’t stop there anyway.
You really haven’t got a clue. Saw a wiz bang awning out in a Manly street the other night, give him a go you reckon when I’m paying through the nose at Lakeside Narrabeen, crap. as others have said get your head out of the sand
We were travelling along the Indian Ocean Road in Western Australia just last week and just before a roadside stop was a sign “Rest if fatigued”. So we pulled into the next road side stop only to be contronted with two signs the first said “No Camping” Hmmm how fo we define Camping and Resting???. The second sign said “No Dogs” so because we travel with a dog, this sign says we can’t rest if fatigued. So, extremely stuffed we moved on without resting and the next two roadside stops where the same. Seems we are forced to break the rules and risk heavy fines to “Rest if Fatigued”
Oh wow! I seemed to have upset a couple of blokes with my comments ! Don’t think you read me right. For your record we travel extensively ,we don’t live permently in our motorhome, ( I do wonder why you want to know where I live ? ) but we spend about 4 months a year on the road. We worked( and paid taxes) 50 years too, I never said anything about not giving older people a go! A lot of older single people travel in Wizz bang rigs too, but the photo that was being commented on was of young people, fair go for everyone I reckon, and if they can find a cheap/ free camp good luck to them. I don’t think there are a lot of ” campers ” in the suburbs , yes it is a discrace the amount of rubbish all over our country, some is left by campers, some by town people.
I can’t believe the attitude in this country to free camping. Australia should follow New Zealand’s successful attitude,rules and regulations to free camping. One has to be completely self contained and showing a sticker to prove this to be able to camp in free camps.The owner of such vehicles pledged to clean up after themselves and dispose of all their rubbish and waste This is a beautiful country and again like New Zealand why can’t us caravanners stop and enjoy it wherever and whenever we want to.
Listed below is a new 48 hr free camp site adjacent to the Stockland Shopping Centre in the heart of Rocky.
The name is Kershaw Garden free camping.
If you google it you will get further info..;
It is a shame that other major cities and towns do not for4llow the progressive lead of the Rockhampton city fathers.
Well done Rocky.
P.S.
We stayed there back in September 2014
https://www.google.com.au/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0CB8QFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.themorningbulletin.com.au%2Fnews%2Ffree-parking-rvs-kershaw-gardens-robs-van-parks%2F2344939%2F&ei=mTXfVKP7AoO58gW_gYFI&usg=AFQjCNH4-SWZm0_I5taVble-C8mfouypiw&sig2=-a5T_0btkKA0b76ndV54bA&bvm=bv.85970519,d.dGc
Overnight stops for travellers in towns and on roads is a must for safety and it just should be allowed. Scotland accomodates this no questions asked wherever rhere are rubbish bins and toilets. Provide these and the places are left clean and tidy. Free camping – that’s a different level – should be allowed free to pensioners and students with others paying a moderate fee – and for a limited time. Caravan parks are for holidays and should cater and charge as such and no one should grizzle at their fees. Three different levels – the same across the country so everyone knows the rules.
Why would you be so shocked at people sleeping in there cars ?? It’s not like it’s a new trend or something, — people have been doing this for over a hundred years. Grow up and get out of the tunnel vision you have. We are a Travellers having fun.
I don’t mind campers on the beach, as long as they take their rubbish and bin it. It’s discrimination to even suggest different rules for the grey nomads or the back backers. There should be free camping available at Port Macquarie, if not on the beaches, near the river. Somewhere where these people can rest up for a few days before tackling our busy highways.
My thinking is that provided people are clean it should be encouraged. It brings businesd into the towns