As the popularity of caravanning and camping is increasing, so too has the desire from some landowners to welcome travellers onto their properties.
However, there are generally some pretty tight restrictions on how this can be done, and a lot of red tape involved.
In a sign that some local authorities are recognising the potential benefits of having grey nomads and other travellers staying on private land close to places where they might spend money, Gympie Regional Council in Queensland has eased some of its restrictions.
The Gympie Times reports that council has agreed to double the number of caravans, tents or cabins allowed on a private property without a development application approval.
Under the changes the number of caravans, tents, or cabins allowed on a private block will be capped at eight.
The number of guests allowed will be capped at 48, or six per caravan. There was previously no limit.
The Gympie Times reports that the changes were passed following a 30-minute debate in which councillor Bob Fredman raised concerns about the impact on neighbours and the environment.
He said it was crucial that the council ensure those running these ‘mini tourist parks’ abide by the rules, given they were “popping up everywhere all over Mary Valley”, and leading to complaints about “what’s coming down the river from a neighbour”.
“I believe there should be some sort of application process so people understand and know what their obligations are,” Mr Fredman said. “I know they own the land so they’ve got certain rights to do many things … but the neighbours also have some rights.”
He said that in the past in the Mary Valley, there had been a number of cases of people disregarding neighbours’ rights.
“Eight vans is a lot of effluent, a lot of noise,” Mr Fredman said.
He also raised concerns about the impact on the environment too, given campers were doing things like using soap while bathing in Yabba Creek.
Director Adrian Burns said noise complaints about these sites would mostly be handled by the council.
“That growth in the number of vans, we don’t believe it’s going to make a significant difference,” Mr Burns said.
He said the change was part of an attempt to drive more people to the region and allow landowners to earn money from their land in other ways.
The proposal was passed unanimously following an amendment to assuage Mr Fredman’s concerns.
The Gympie Times reports that the changes will now be forwarded to the State Government which will decide whether to send it for a State interest review.
The State will provide feedback to the council, which will still have the option of putting the planning changes up for public review before making them official.
I can fully understand them having some concerns…SOME land owners don’t care what campers do on their land, just interested in the money! Also, SOME campers aren’t very considerate of others, noisewise or keeping sites clean etc!
I understand the concerns but as we are in a different regional council area, we are on the end of the line, vans must be self contained. So there is no impact on the land and our creek! Our council want to charge us $10k for an application to allow 6 vans on our private land! This is absolutely preposterous !
If we want to keep farming in the valley we must give farmers the ability to use other forms of income from their land
What rubbish….people don’t use soap in the creek nor is there effluent in creeks from caravanners…stop trying to make it hard for people. Creeks that are pristine will stay that way. Pesticides and cow poo seem to be ok though… Those opening up your properties do so we will with the environment in mind. Ourselves and others with self contained vans will also keep environment in mind. Can’t believe your statements …. So so unconnected to reality.
Lik your comment –it is so true
If the landowner provide bacic sanitary I cannot fault whatever thy do on there own property.
This is all very well for the land holder and the benefit of the caravaner. But as a Caravan Park owner I wonder how the landowner will be able to afford the insurance he will need to pay. No doubt most places won’t take out that insurance. And if they are providing amenities will they be required to pay all the Council approval fees. I noted in the headlines the word tents, if that is allowed then amenities will be required.
Gympie certainly needs RV camp spots but they also need to be regulated. The 24/48 hour rest stops have campers in them at times for days.
I think with the proposed six RV sites Council is helping the district by encouraging travellers to stay in the area. These no doubt can be overseen and regulated but the idea of open slather for landholders seems like it will be impossible to police, legally anyway.
I believe as long as they a fully self contained it is no issue, the grey water can be diverted to gardens as is common at most caravan parks or held in storage tanks. if they allow tents or small camper vans without toilet or shower facities then they would have to provide amenities which would be expensive!!
I am interested to host people in 2 caravans on my property in NSW providing the caravans & setting them up as an Airbnb. What are the rules around this?
No
I think consideration to neighbours is paramount, having a situation whereby a camper has stayed for nearly two years first 9 months with no permit , and the location of his van had been very intimidating, and on many occasions we have been subjected to full on nudity, his mindless actions causing accidents horse riders on our property, and constantly being watched .
Yes there is a need for a provision for genuine travellers, but the Councils need to address the need for a provision for long term occupants of caravans.
If this is not properly addressed it is going to lead to a lot of problems between neighbours, and will devalue a lot of homes.
I afraid to say that a lot of these travellers are not bothered about what they do on a site, with any form of pollution to the area they park in, be it debris, noise they create, destruction of the land ,general nuisance, none of that bother them, they just move on and leave.
What seems like a nice thing to offer, whilst making money on the side in most cases, for many private land owners, the Local councils receive no benefit, instead they have to find the man power to deal with complaints.
I think this issue needs a lot more thought to protect landowners, as once someone is on your land , it will be very hard to remove them, should you need to
With housing rents becoming unafordable to the everday Australian and tourism business being crippled by beurocratic blunders and mismanagment there needs to be someone with common sense and level headedness to sort out private land use, owners maintain it, pay for it, protect it, and yet councils can still make more and more decisions about how it is utlised. Keep piling on more rates, making rediculas planning decisions and forcing everyday people to break council laws because people are becoming more and more disatisfied with the cost of living and poverty. As long as property owners are willing to take responsibility and control of how their property is used in a save community way it shouldn’t be up to others to decide who lives where. To much local government interferince pulls down community growth, Have less counsellors on councils, constutuants should be able to vote on their performance, make decision about how many councillors are able to represent a region and cap their income??