The number of people choosing to camp illegally appears to be growing as a housing crisis and the domestic travel boom triggered by the lifting of Covid-related travel restrictions have combined to create a perfect storm.
And it seems that local authorities are struggling to decide on the best approach.
As reported earlier this week, Queensland’s Noosa Council is cracking down pretty hard, and issuing more fines.
Similarly, across in WA, parking at Fremantle’s South Beach has just been capped at four hours as the council seeks to stop large numbers of campervans occupying the area.
Some backpackers say they came to work, but there is nowhere for them to stay. PIC: Pexels
PerthNow reports that the new rules at the beach will start as soon as new signage can be installed, with work expected to start on them this week.
Fremantle field services manager Mark Donnelly told the publication that taking over management of the Public Transport Authority-owned car park at South Beach would enable the local authority to ‘more effectively manage illegal camping/parking in this area’.
“We are changing the time limits to four hours to ensure vehicles are not able to stay overnight,” he said. “Our community safety team also conduct regular patrols of areas around the City of Fremantle to monitor for illegal camping and parking.”
The council told PerthNow that multiple fines have been dished out to campers in the area over the past year. However, the publication reports that, as recently as last week, more than a dozen campers were parked at South Beach and six vans along Marine Terrace on one night.
The City of Cockburn also confirmed increasing reports of unauthorised camping in its car parks since Covid restrictions relaxed, and the state’s borders were re-opened to the rest of Australia.
Cockburn’s head of community safety and ranger services, Michael Emery, told PerthNow that the city attempted to deter campers but three had been given $80 infringements in the past 13 months.
“The city locks car parks and toilet facilities to deter out-of-hours use, reducing the desirability of our coastal areas for campers,” he said.
Mr Emery said infringement numbers were not an ‘accurate reflection of the issue as some unauthorised camping may be due to people experiencing a life crisis’.
“In these cases, the city works with the affected person to provide contact details for support agencies rather than issuing an infringement,” he said.
And, despite evidence of multiple cars and vans also setting up at coastal car parks between Scarborough and Hillarys, councils in those areas told PerthNow there wasn’t a problem.
A City of Stirling spokesperson said most people camping illegally in the area were ‘experiencing homelessness’ and consequently its team ‘has not issued fines towards illegal campers in the past 12 months’.
And there are similar issues cross the country, particularly in popular holiday spots. In Coffs Harbour on the NSW Mid North Coast, for example, calls are growing for something to be done about people camping for free at a large empty parcel of land near the Jetty Foreshores.
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Simple answer is make it easier for private business to allow overnight parking for self contained vehicles at low prices with 48 hr limit and easier to establish private campgrounds on own properties. This will stop the problem
Absolutely agree… that is a win/win solution for all parties
Good idea
IT REEKS OF GREED!
Nature belongs to all of us. Self contained caravans don’t leave a mess and the caravan industry has made a killing on it. Councils are just greedy and local’s like the income from tourists..
We should encourage local tourists so less people spend Au$ in Bali and oversees!!!
Supply bins and public toilets with the council fees and stop the mean attitude
Maybe caravan parks should lower Thier fees
Some self contained campers don’t leave a mess, that’s true, some are absolutely disgusting
The disgusting one’s and there is plenty of them are ruining it for the good people.
Adopt what NZ has , plenty of free camping zones for the traveller in campervans , it’s their industry hiring out Motorhomes and vans for the tourist to see NZ ..
Yeah I agree . Campers should be allowed to pull up and spend the night there . Enforce 4 hr limits between like 10am and 9pm in the finer . What harm does a few people stopping in a car park over night do .
Problems with that idea facilities have to be cleaned, who pays for that? Also Aussies have a bad habit of vandalising everything.
You couldn’t have said it better.
I agree with all you say.
Who is a Grey Nomad?
In my travels I see a lot of Back Packers living out of a wiz bang, with no self contained prospects.
These visitors are largely on a tight budget and tend to spend very little. Ok we need them to pick our fruit, and do other menial work that your elderly Aussie is not going to do.
As a previous Building manager where a lot of Back packers gathered together and shared costs, I found that when their visa expired they simply flew out of Australia often leaving un paid debts and their old wiz bang for council to remove at our expense.
My point is an Australian who has worked his/her life here, paid their way all their life and now wants to enjoy some quiet years, could have their Licence/ Registration endorsed by Australian Gov authority’s which would give them some rights to camp in or near areas where they can get some comforts while supporting the community.
There used to be alot of short term rest areas around but councils closed them to force people into caravan parks witch basically cost you as much as renting a house caravan parks are the greedy ones lower the costs and more will come simple I no the gold coast have cracked down no wonder when the person that owns the caravan park sits on the council
What a bloody brilliant idea and endorsement on our licence/rego that we are Aussies spending our hard earned dollars along the way.
That is a good idea. some form of I.D. on a Registration Label each year to indicate you are Australian and a Civic Member of this country. Also how about the Farming Industry be permitted to open up some of their land for the fruit and Vegy pickers to camp on. The Farms once had Accomodation for these Backpackers to stay in when working on the Farm, but some money hungry person in Government introduced a TAX on this accomodation for the owner of the property which hastened the loss of it.
I think it’s time to re-evaluate what is legal and illegal camping. If people are homeless, rather than penalising them. Have more areas where they can stay short times… upto 48hrs.
Penalities should occur if the area is becoming unsightly or rubbish tip.
May be Homeless people should register with the Council in some way so that people know and they are not harased to move on providing they are not turning the area into a pig stye. Also they can then be contacted if a place becomes available.
Councils need to take a different approach, and allocate suitable car parks for overnight stays, with the possibility of move on laws after 7 or 8am, to make use for day users.
Rent is greater than income, and booked out caravan parks is a major problem.
State and Federal governments are to blame for refusing to cap price of rent, and refusing to increase the minimum wage in line with inflation, local councils obviously are the ones who need to provide somewhere for people to stay.
Sleeping is a basic human necessity.
Outlawing Sleep can only be an epic fail.
I am a resident in Coffs Harbour and am extremely aware of the current housing crisis on the north coast of NSW and frequently drive past and sometimes park in the – area referred to in a previous post. There are a number of ” free camps” in the local area, two others located in the Bellingen shire as well. All these areas are reasonably well patronised by the through travellers and to a lesser extent by the homeless .Sure, some people don’t do the right thing but in the main the large majority do. All that is required is for the majority to pick up the small amounts of rubbish which may be left by the minority and place it in the bins that SHOULD Be provided by council, but in many cases are not.,even though the garbage trucks pass these areas frequently. Also, install bins of appropriate size, not the half size ones that are often seen nowadays overflowing with rubbish being spread by animals and birds. With regard to toilet facilities these should be a public service but increasingly they are closed after 5pm and don’t reopen until 8 am next morning. I wish that my ablutions would fall neatly into those hours. Again I am aware vandalism does occur , we don’t live in a perfect world but surely it is better than people defecating around the area. All that is required is a bit of community spirit, COMMON SENSE, something seemingly lacking these days, and a bit of compassion for people less fortunate than than ourselves. I too pay my rates, large ones at that, as I live on the beach front in Coffs but I look at the homeless and think that there but for the grace of god, or some other deity , or even maybe good luck, go I. We can afford to waste hundreds of millions of dollars on sending arms to other parts of the world, but can’t afford to provide a few cheap facilities to enrich the lives of our own less fortunate and showcase this beautiful country of ours to young overseas travellers, who often are doing the menial tasks that many of the complainers take advantage of daily with cheap labour to pick crops and serve the complainers their coffee. Just rampant greed, and NIMBYism. Caravan parks are very often booked out, and on the new coastal highways they are removing a lot of the roadside rest areas, even though we are implored to rest every 2 hours, and replacing them with shadeless areas with no overnight stay signs. Get real people.
I totally agree. I have been to the blue mountains for 2 weeks doung some beautiful bush walking. Then i come down to the coast to make my way back to the sunshine coast where i live. I am shocked at how many people are travelling and all the national parks are booked out, its not even easter yet. The amount of people living on the side of the road is very sad, makes us look like a third world country. The government need to build more community housing, but they wont because they dont give a dam. Forty dollars a night to park my hiace van on a piece of dirt how greedy is that. We need more compassionate people in councils and governments. Lets look after everyone.
Brenda if it wasn’t for our coal, gas, oil and iron ore we would be a third world country. That is were these Marxist in Canberra are taking us.
Locking up toilets and then complaining about people using the bushes seems a bit silly. Perhaps, instead of trying to stop it they could embrace it in a manner acceptable to all. Provide allocated areas and facilities for free overnight parking and control behaviour if necessary. Backpackers should be welcomed not shunned. The homeless is another issue that’s not helped by locking up toilets and fines.
So no sympathy at all from these people for those that have been forced into this form of living due to losing their homes as a result of unaffordable rents and mortgages ?
If people are in a self contained motorhome, camper or caravan, why are local councils worried about overnight stays. Surely it is better to set at 24 or 48 hour time limit and let the local businesses enjoy the extra income from travellers stopping for more than just fuel
There’s a big difference between able bodied freeloaders who illegally camp on prime beachfront areas and deter tourists and the homeless.
Councils should be providing dedicated overnight short term camping at nominal amount and heavily fine the freeloaders.
After all everyone in tbis country is either paid ir receiving benefits. We all have to pay to live somewhere and some need a hand-up.
So you could actually be fined for sleeping in your car if you are even just too tired to continue driving. There are posted signs everywhere recommending resting when fatigued. How would the ranger know who’s camping and who’s having a “driver reviver”?
If there aren’t any signs saying “no camping”, than it’s hard for them to justify calling it “illegal” camping. With that being said, I believe its time for Australia to change its attitude tawards free camping and drop the “industry protectionism” ideals that are strong here. Most free locations were closed caravan parks had a huge moan about how much they were losing and councils buckled and gave in to the greedy bastards. In reality, those who stop free will simply not stop in a paid spot unless it’s cheap, talking under 20 bucks a night. The cold and hard facts are, that those who seek free spots, rarely pay for a spot. We prefer to spend our money at other local businesses.
Most of the places in question have showgrounds or recreation grounds.. open them to camping and keep it cheap. 15 powered, 10 unpowered and they must accept all campers.
In Scotland all carparks and rest areas are available for self-contained vehicles to park overnight. My observation is that people appreciate the provision and I rarely saw any selfish behaviours in relation to rubbish, noise etc. Toilets are open all night with a token coin required for entry and to offset cleaning costs. About time the not in my backyard mob became more enlightened.
The answer is simple. The councils need to open up some football grounds or ovals that aren’t in use for temporary overnight stays. People are coming here to experience Perth and there just isn’t enough caravan parks or camp grounds to accommodate everyone because of the housing shortage. There is a huge facility in Bullsbrook not being utilised at all. There’s plenty large open area’s around Perth.
There is a housing crisis people need to stay somewhere safe homeless Australians are living in vans caravan anywhere safe
Why give people a fine during this crisis.. Think about offering 24hr /48hr donation camps or $10 per night..
This country is a joke you work your whole life pay tax, and then stay at a designated bush camp with little or no amenities and the scum government still want us to pay
Refuse push back it’s our country the government work for us ftg
I am an Australian citizen if I want to camp in my country no councils or government should have the right to tell me what to.do as long as you clean up and leave it as you found it what is the problem is just the power going to governments and the council Heads and just because there’s no money in it for them
Fortunately I have never been homeless though I don’t have a bricks and mortar home, I live in a registered 16ft caravan that I occasionally take away for short periods, maintaining my site, but now with the rental crisis in Perth many have no option but to live in their cars, the state government needs to step up and provide a safe area for parking over night across the metro area, there needs to have toilet facilities, but not permanent camping, cleared every day so that the area can be cleaned, charge a nominal fee 3 to 5 dollars a night to pay for keeping the area tidy, I realise there would be other considerations but surely Experts who are capable of putting something together
Possibly some residents would be willing to offer a driveway with or without shared utilities or expense!
What a stinking bunch of kill joys. 4 hours! No doubt decided upon by a bunch of morons sitting in their squallid little offices pissed off that other people are enjoying life. Oh well your stupid towns will miss out on the thousands of tourist dollars that could be spent in shops, restaurants, take aways and everything else that travellers spend in EVERY CITY they visit. Take this into your head if you can in 5 days us vanners spent more than a Million dollars into Barcaldine, Qld businesses during the drought.
As l watch control of everything around our Australian camping , “Foremost the beaches belong to the people of Australia “and should always have free access and amenities as over all generations have had the pleasure to do..Caravan parks should with the help of there council have designated areas for holidayers and seperate long term dwellers(At a cost of affordability) Invite people in not block them out ,mostly people do the right thing and as we have Rangers every where all is monitored , Stop taking free Camping !!to some families who work hard to rare families to day its there only type of holidays for better mental health when holidays come we can not all afford luxury travel with the high cost of living on us all .Freedom for us all and travel safely.
Greed and envy …..the human condition we can not treat…since we sacked the principles we lived by for couple of thousand years , do unto others etc yeah right
Not everyone wants to stay in caravan parks and pay large amounts to stay overnight. Caravans, motorhomes, fifth wheelers these days are fully equipped and self contained not to mention expensive to purchase and most often these people would rather buy in towns than pay fees to just park for night.
More free camps more money for towns you only have to look at places that do this and they welcome travellers it works well both ways.
I agree Caravan Parks, Councils have closed a lot of free camps.
Also needed are places to stop and rest every 2 hours, so do truck drivers need their rest stops and facilities, this needs to be addressed.
It is time to look after fruit pickers etc. Suggest that the people employing these workers should also provide safe accommodation, a place to park, toilets, they need these workers. Shearer’s usually have places to stay why not other workers all are important.
People who do not have accommodation for whatever reason – any place could be used for a place out of the weather by this I think government, councils etc should be looking at halls, vacant buildings that could house people and give them some self respect.
Something needs to be done now not later, this is becoming a bigger problem with too high rents and shortage of housing.
Please look after all people.
Clearly there are multiple problems here. Homelessness is one that urgently needs addressing. But leaving that to one side for this post…
The other reality is there are many many more people travelling the country in vans. I just returned from 4 weeks in a caravan and compared to the same time last year there are at least double. We have been implored to see our own country first but infrastructure to do so has not kept up with demand. Most caravan parks now require you to book ahead. So if you are just passing through and not sure where you will stop for an overnight the options are becoming limited. And frankly paying big money to park overnight when you are self contained does seem ridiculous. Many new vans are self contained and not everyone wants to pay big money to park a metre from your neighbour as often is the case in caravan parks. Not knocking them. Lots of good parks around. But we need some diverse options. The rise of hipcamp is one great option. I spoke to one property owner who said he made more many from having his paddock open for self-contained vans than for cattle. A bit of extra income for minimal effort is something many would appreciate.
There are small towns now that are addressing the issue in positive ways. Providing safe clean areas with bins, dump points, drinking water taps, maybe toilets, some even provide picnic tables, BBQs etc. These are really appreciated and most people try to spend some $ in the town. Often buying supplies, having meals, etc. Every place I have stopped with adequate bins and perhaps a toilet has been clean and looked after. In SA I noticed quite a few towns had ‘RV friendly town’ signs on the approach. Some have started to provide parking for caravans in the town so it is easy to stop and SPEND MONEY. If you can’t pull up anywhere, you will keep driving. Not much is needed to make it a positive experience all round. Putting no camping signs everywhere does not address the problem. So many dying country towns could make good income by attracting vanners. Not everyone wants to stick to the coast. There is opportunity, not just threat. And we have a beautiful country to explore. Let’s make it easier, not harder.
I think it’s time to leave the homeless people alone ,they have to live somewhere ,it will get worse ,caravan parks are full ,and also charging an arm and a leg gouging greed ,to people with no money now ,this is governments fault ,they doing nothing ,only care about spending money on Olympics ,it should be cancelled until this crises is fixed ,by the time they build homes in ten years it will triple homelessness ,greedy landlords and real estates ,should freeze rents ,stop immigrants and backpackers also no room for them ,all parks should be used for these people and have a park officer keep an eye on cleaning etc ,.if people are dirty then tell them to leave .any empty homes , units should be used to house people and empty buildings not used to put people in ,put showers and toilets in them ,this problem is a national disgrace ,stop the greed ,and selfishness , don’t allow gouging on rents people offering more money .our pensioners and disability people are going on streets disgusting ,wake up Australia ,you could be next ,those who complain selfishness and cruel .
A lot of council caravan parks closed down ,to sell them to investors ,so greed there as well one in Gympie gone ,one in Maroochydore also ,and one in perigian beach gone also ,others as well ,my cousin pays 300 a week in a park and it’s his own little house ,and they can’t have pets there , that’s to much rent , he’s a pensioner ,so greedy owners .
This country is now a third world country we have weak rulers who don’t care about homelessness ,it will get much worse ,all homeless people should all go to their local showgrounds and camp so people can see how bad it’s getting in each town ,get together people .
Caravan parks are putting up prices as well so most can’t afford it ,needs to be stopped as well ,those who goug should be made to pay more tax,maybe half of what they make ,so much greed now selfish Australia .
Soon the NRAS WILL STOP all those people will be on the street pensioners and disability ,should be continued until housing fixed , crazy .
landlords and real estates who put people on streets should be shamed by the media in public ,and their names put in the paper , it’s cruelty especially if they are pensioners and disability .
Another typical COUNCIL nobrains couldn’t careless if your homeless. All about money don’t care about the retires what the people have done for AUSTRALIA PUT all people in one category and treat everyone like crap .and 99 percent of RANGERS well there want to be police men or women like the law officers for councils couldn’t become a police officer being brain dead couldn’t make it .So the next best power trip is law officer or RANGERS..IF you haven’t got power you don’t get the high the adrenaline rush .and for people going overseas well good less money for towns with no brain councils .far as Western Australia goes the only good thing about it it’s mines are making money for AUSTRALIA . Backpackers in Australia need to be made to be travelling in self contained proper caravan or R.V that in its self is a must .and the amount of DOLE BLUGGERS IN AUSTRALIA NEED TO BE FORCED TO WORK OR TAKE THE OFF THE DOLE NOT ROCKET SCIENCE.
Australia since the greed and hysteria of the covid caused caravan parks tent sites to jack their prices up to incredible greed forcing people to camp elsewhere some pace ending in heads charges 160 per night for a caravan powered sites with a minimum of 5 nights Tay best way to beat this insane greed Park up your caravan go cruising force their prices down
California is we’re we are heading, and if you have been to California you know what I mean.
The problem with people who run most council have no empathy towards caravaners and camper’s they don’t travel like we do. Because they have to meet once a month, more likely own a business in that area are limited to travel so really don’t understand the lifestyle of grey nomads have, and try to enjoy life in general.
In w.a.the r.a.c. caravan parks are outrageous ly expensive even for members, they are greedy, and gouging.
I hope thia also applies to people sleeping in their cars…
You have to get a grasp on what will happen imposing these fines. No RV or vans will call in and stay and spend money throughtout the town..
Well said Michael
We are so over regulated in this country, one of the things I love about Scotland is the right to roam, you can camp anywhere that isn’t private property, the usual rules regarding litter etc, apply, we have some amazing country, but so many restrictive rules it’s a disgrace, the lucky country if you pay enough!
The Land is free for all of us . The government Cabal don’t want that to happen ( UN Agents agendas of Fiction) Dirty campers should be shamed.
A number of times I have taken myself off to spend the night in my car when things got too difficult at home. Relax safely among quiet vans, time to reflect and go home with a fresh outlook. I have NEVER seen antisocial behaviour and wonder what really is the reason that all these people are so against the van-livers. South Beach at night will feel so unsafe now and the life that the van-dwellers brought , with the gentle groups of people from around the world practicing their skills on the tight-wire and just talking and relaxing on the grass, where everyone is welcome and in a safe space, is now gone forever.
Fremantle has lost something special.
I’m not homeless, but feel for the ever growing number who are , and who now if they ever went to our lovely South Beach for a nights respite would find it a very unwelcoming and hostile place indeed.
Don’t you just love the Freeloaders on this site. I don’t want to pay for anything, the Government should provide everything. Whinge, whinge, whinge.
I’ve been homeless in Redcliffe Qld for 2 years on a Houseing list had the council come today and said I have 48 hour to leave there’s a big difference in camping and being homeless the council is (undercover) pulling all our basic civil rights I’m homeless where do U want me to go…
All the council does is move U on to another council area that way it’s the next councils problem
May be a decent rest area about 4 k’s out of town alongside the roads or Highways with Parking Meter payment for overnight stay. Put the Ticket on the dash and the Rangers can see it. No one with a receipt in view gets a fine. Times can be for 4 through to 10 hours depending on the amount paid. Toilet and showers can also be coin operated. The only drawback is that it must be Policed by the authority who is responsible for the area and may be even Private Enterprise may be interested in doing it on a lease arrangement.