Anyone looking to give the authorities a good reason to close down more free camping areas should just try to replicate the disgraceful behaviour of a group of ‘campers’ in Victoria’s Gippsland region last month.
The site at the McKinnon’s Point camping ground at Briagolong was left strewn with human waste, domestic rubbish, and a burning campfire. The Gippsland Times reports that eight large bags of rubbish, a burnt chair frame, three paddle boat oars, a pile of broken glass, cans and other rubbish were left burning in a campfire along the Freestone Creek on Sunday, February 28.
It said the riverbed and surrounding area was left covered in used toilet paper and human waste … within metres of the water’s edge in some places.
Conservation Regulator officers had to use 30 litres of water to extinguish the fire and filled a ute with the rubbish left behind.
The campsite is in the Briagolong State Forest which is located two-and-a-half hours’ drive from Melbourne.
The shocking state that the site was left in will no doubt leave all campers who go out of their way to do the right thing and to respect their environment feeling frustrated and angry. It comes at a time when many rural communities are carefully examining the pros and cons of having free camping areas in their regions.
Just a week or so ago, the leader of the Plantagenet Shire Council said the decision to close the popular free camping site in the WA town of Mount Barker was taken because of the behaviour of a few thoughtless people. Cr Chris Pavlovich told the Grey Nomads that the authority was not against RV parking areas in principle, but said the site had been abused by a minority in ‘Wicked Vans, station wagons or older-style caravans’.
The dumping of rubbish on public land is illegal, and can have significant effects on the environment and human health.
In Victoria, penalties of nearly $10,000 and-or one month imprisonment can apply.
More often the grubs are locals. Not the passing traveller
It is my firm belief that if Free Camps were inhabited by self contained Motor homes and caravans (Grey Nomads) there would be a visual deterrent to local yobbos camping/deficating/lighting fires and other anti social behaviours. Whizz bangers and wicked vans should be mandated by the owner/lessors to only be overnighted in designated camping areas/caravan parks., and fitted with GPS recording equipment detaining all movements.
No
Not at all
Louts making a mess is wrong but it is even worse to dictate who can camp where
No way this is Australia not a prison camp
A great idea as I have seen occupants of ‘Wicked’ vans defecating and leaving their rubbish in so many free camps and off-road campsites. I would like to see these vans banned altogether as they are not safe and their occupants generally are trouble makers, bigtime!
We always hear of the possible penalty are the ever enforced ?
Yes indeed, Port Hedland in WA had issues with whizz bangers parking in boat ramps, beach car parks and the like and has Rangers working nights issuing $750 fines and clamping wheels until paid.
As a full-timer in my vintage caravan I don’t like the way I’ve been lumped in with “Wicked Vans, station wagons or older-style caravans!”
I don’t think anyone can make assumptions that certain types of camp vehicles are the bad guys here, it’s certain people, idiots, probably drinking too much to have the reasonable parts of their brains functioning to deal with cleaning up and being responsible. Anyone who’s a serious long-term caravanner/RV/motorhomer/whatever knows the rules and what is expected of us.
This isn’t a grey nomad problem. This is young dufuses doing what young dufuses do when they don’t want Mum to know what they’re really up to!
Always a small minority of back crappers or drunken tent dwellers who can tarnish the RV community. In Tasmania there are signs stating “No Camping, Motor homes and Caravans allowed” to sought out the riffraff. Closing free campsites because of a few fools is no justification if it were they should shut down Hollywood which is full of pedophiles…
I have said it a few times lately, there are a lot of inconsiderate people around and seems to be getting worse. ‘Some’ just don’t care. I would like to see them named and shamed. I know what I really would like to happen to them?
Thats the reason I camp in isolated areas well away from the camping traffic flow.
Peaceful, no sign of people, in tune with nature and only leave tracks.
Same as us Pat. 95% of our camps are off the beaten track, away from other people. And we leave the place in better cond. then it was before, that is, pristine..
Same this side,stop nearly always station stays .
Peace and quite.open fire,Find a better type of people ?
The world has gone mad.
I have a older van. We don’t have an inbuilt toilet, but have a chemical toilet if we need it. We can’t afford to buy a new van. Why are we now tarred with these louts? I’m forever picking up rubbish left by people,and not just older vans and campers but flash one big vans
Not fair to generalise. Have seen people young and old
“Behaving Badly” in tents, campers and RVs . Tough penalties needed and cameras (maybe) in problem areas.
Saw some Senior Cits picking up rubbish along the roadside near Dunsborough. Thank you for helping keep WA clean!!
There is bugger all use in penalties if they are not enforced. Prominent CCTV and signage may help dissuade the less feral of the trash brigade but the best solution is regular patrols by Council Rangers or the police and withdrawal of tourist visas
Lindsay Hill said =, ” We can’t afford to buy a new van.’ and that situation will only get worse as few are the new light weight med to smaller vans built. With the top end market being prioritized.
As for the crap and rubbish abounding, these folk tend to live like this in their own homes. In a few years they will tire of camping and we’ll have a few years relief untill their kid continue in fathers footsteps as they were taught.
oh dear, this does not bode well for me. I am just about to embark on a trip from WA to north Qld. taking my time and enjoying the camping. I hope no one lumps me in with the badly behaved as I am travelling in a Mazda van the same as the wicked vans only without the paint jobs. I will be self sufficient with all I need. as well as being a senior cit.
After a few years on the road as you say and mainly camping in Free or Low Cost sites everyones comments have some truth to them , But sad to say that its a minority off all groups, we have witnessed people from all groups , some times its locals, Grey Noonads , Whisbangers, Motorhomers, whatever , they dont care or just expect the rest to clean up for them , no matter what rules are implemented people just do as they are
Only a small percentage of people do the type of things described above. The best punishment is to make them known to the public.Splash their faces everywhere especially where they live. Then make them do clean up duties in public areas for a year or so. If that does not cure them add a flogging for second offenders like the boy got for spray painting cars in Singapore years ago. Also take the vehicle from them they used to get to these places. Make them hurt so they stop ruining things for the responsible people.
Catching and identifying the culprits though is always the hard part. Knowing the type of people likely to get drunk in an area and do such things would be a good start to putting a stop to this sort of thing. It will most often be local louts as true nomads would never do such stuff to harm these sort of free camping places. How many people drive hundreds of kilometers with enough alcohol to get drunk and deface the area?
Lastly no-one wants cameras spying on them when they just want private camping along their journey. But what about cameras that see every vehicle that travels into and out of them to know who was there and when. It would cut down the time it takes to identify likely suspects. Of course these cameras should never be used for any other purpose other than identifying loutish persons that ruin these sites. That would just be invading the privacy of good people.