There have been calls for better regulation of camping in private land following a number of rescues during recent heavy flooding in New South Wales.
The ABC reports that Tweed Shire mayor, Chris Cherry, has vowed to write to the state’s planning minister seeking a review of agritourism policy.
Cr Cherry said she spoke with two campers who were among 10 people rescued by the State Emergency Service (SES) at Eungella, west of Murwillumbah.
She told the ABC the Gold Coast couple was staying in their caravan on private property beside the Oxley River after booking via online platform Hipcamp.
“Obviously they had no idea of the danger they were in,” Cr Cherry said.
NSW State Emergency Service (SES) volunteers regularly train to be ready for flood rescue events. PIC: NSW SES
The ABC reports that another four people were rescued in the Tweed after their caravan was swept away, while a couple free-camping next to the Shoalhaven River in the state’s south also had to be rescued.
The mayor described the situation as a ‘red flag’.
“Hopefully those in government will be thinking about making some changes, so people need to get at least some level of approval to check that fire and flood hazards are not too great to be putting tourists in that zone,” she told the ABC. “As a minimum council should need to sign off that it is a location where camping is an appropriate thing to do.”
Dairy farmer Necia Davis, who has two campsites and was hosting a family on the property on Tyalgum Creek, said she understood the concern.
“We are no stranger to floods here and as soon as it looks like there might be a flood or some constant heavy rain, I go and have a chat with them,” she told the ABC. “But also, Mother Nature, nobody can predict what she can do and I think we have so many rules and regulations already that another one around people wanting to camp and enjoy the outdoors is going to hurt us.”
The ABC also spoke with Hipcamp founder and chief executive, Alyssa Ravasio, who said the company worked with local governments to handle disaster response and advise on regulation to ensure safe and responsible recreation.
“Hipcamp would absolutely champion additional regulations that help to ensure private land camping is safe for all and that hosts are able to receive timely notifications from emergency services,” she said.
The NSW agritourism policy, which was introduced in 2022, allows farms bigger than 15 hectares to host up to 20 campers without planning or building approval.
State Emergency Service commissioner Carlene York said that while the SES had been called to assist a number of campers, regulation was a matter for government.
“Australia is very much about being out in open spaces, we want to encourage that where it is safe to do so and the risk isn’t great,” she told the ABC. “The message from SES is, know where you are going and understand what the messages are from us and what the warnings are or the forecast for the weather from the Bureau of Meteorology.”
More than half a metre of rain fell in parts of the Tweed Valley in northern NSW during a 48-hour period over the festive period.
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Regulate; Regulate; Regulate. Keep us all at home. Many areas around rivers and creeks are great spots to camp but they do come with the risk of flood. Established Caravan and camping spots are the same. You can’t and should not regulate everything. Just be aware that what makes a spot a great place to camp also could make it flood prone or maybe bush fire prone. Plan ahead and work out the risks for you and your family and mitigate against them in your plan. Don’t regulate. It’s a get out clause for lazy local/state/federal governments and maybe the landholders.
It’s really fairly simple…read and understand the weather synoptic charts and have an understanding of weather patterns.
Then stay well away from all low lying areas when rainfall patterns exist.
Like..you don’t park near a river, creek or floodplain in the Top End wet season..!!
The fact that people had to be rescued is very unfortunate, but not entirely avoidable. Did these people receive any warnings from authorities that flooding was likely to occur in that area? If they, or the property owners did, and decided not to evacuate, then I guess genetics may have played a part. Calls by councils to regulate camping in these areas are incredibly hypocritical! How many people had to be evacuated from their own home, due to flooding, because councils had approved housing construction in flood-prone areas? See below.
NSW floods: Evacuation orders, warnings for Lismore, Tweed Heads for ‘unprecedented event’9 months 11 days ago
Tens of thousands of people have been ordered to evacuate areas of northern NSW, with the SES warning of “unprecedented” flooding in the region, including in the city of Lismore and around Murwillumbah and Tweed Heads.
“At the moment there are about 40,000 people subject to an evacuation order across about 18,000 properties, mainly on the Tweed River but also on the Wilsons River at Lismore,” Acting Deputy Commissioner Mark Morrow told the ABC.
If there is going to be a review of camping on private property, I think that Councils need to also review their own planning permissions that allow development in flood-prone areas.
Beating your lips is not the same as beating your drum!