The man charged with trespass after camping illegally at the Gold Coast’s Spit has been banned for life from the beachside location … but he has avoided a potential fine of up to $48,000.
The unhappy camper was nabbed as part of a massive crackdown on free camping in the area, and the authorities hope his treatment will send out a clear message to others considering camping in Doug Jennings Park. The numbers of people camping long-term at the park, and their alleged anti-social behaviour has long been a concern for many locals.
Gold Coast Waterways Authority GCWA) CEO Hal Morris that the punishment handed down at Southport Magistrates Court will be seen as a benchmark for future prosecutions. He told the Gold Coast Bulletin it was a ‘good result’ and showed that if you chose to camp in the park then you would face the full force of the law.
“Our close work with other State Government departments to achieve a permanent, long-term solution to the problem of illegal camping is now being realised,” Mr Morris said. “We’ve listened to the community’s frustrations and we’ve worked hard to gather the necessary evidence to make the successful application.”
Mr Morris told the Bulletin that the GCWA now had a suite of compliance tools to ensure that appropriate action could and would be taken, which included on-the-spot fines of up to $120, fines of up to $1,200 where a person is prosecuted, or like in this case, court orders against a person.
“We will have officers working in the park, reminding people to do the right thing,” he said. “We encourage the responsible use of Doug Jennings Park. It’s a place for everybody to enjoy. But camping, like the signs say, is prohibited.”
· Comment below
What a shame he wasn’t fined. The ban on free camping at that particular spot is not new.
Just wonder what you would have done if it was an foreign backpacker or are you targeting once again easy targets. How do you procecute foreigners or do you just let it go. Big deal on procecuting ozzies. Hi
Sorry you think I am targeting foreign tourists mate. Where ever you come from in the world there are rules and if you break them you should be prosecuted and that goes for backpackers as well. If they don’t have the money to pay the fine then it should be on your way sport.
Except if you are on the water
STEVO. The Gold Coast is that over rated and over priced anyhow why would you bother going. STEVO.