Is it getting harder to find a free camping spot?
A Queensland council which trialled a free camping area is to shelve the experiment after a flood of complaints about camper behaviour.
Wyllie Park just to the north of Brisbane is to be permanently closed to overnight campers following an unsuccessful 16-month overnight stay trial.
Moreton Bay Regional Council said there had been a significant increase in the resources and time required to police the site rules.
“The council received more than 145 complaints from local residents during the trial period regarding a number of issues including people overstaying the 48-hour period and camping overnight in cars and tents rather than self-contained motorhomes and caravans,” a council spokesperson said. “Other issues included damage to council infrastructure, increased waste accumulation and the use of petrol generators at night.”
The Quest Newspaper group reports that the decision will be a particular blow to grey nomads who have come to rely on free or low-cost camping grounds like this.
Camper Karen McKenna told the Pine Rivers Press it was getting harder for travellers to find free or reasonably priced parks for caravans.
• Have you seen the ‘few’ spoiling it for the ‘many’? What can be done to stop more free camping areas being shut due to poor camper behaviour? Comment below
I see a major problem in designating an area for free camping without adequate signage, amenities, and waste collection.
Some Councilor’s have a thought bubble and believe opening a gate to a paddock will bring swags of lady butterfly collector’s waiting at the local shops to give their pensions over.
Every free-loader will be attracted to such a site and abuse privileges because they don’t care, Wizz-banger backpackers can’t/wont be self contained, local hoons will hang around as they are out of sight of the local constabulary.
Yet it seems the communities that seem to do well with free camping are the one’s that organise camp hosts, have adequate toilet and rubbish facilities. Utilising volunteers to run and organise such sites, with local organisations having nightly raffles, etc, along with secure donation box or local shopper docket collection – a “free camp can be an asset to a community.
There is nothing for nothing in today’s World, and local Shires & Councils need to put in some effort to reap the reward of the traveller’s dollar.
It’s sad that this site is closing thanks to the few that do the wrong thing. I really don’t see what is wrong with cars and tents using these facilities. I do this and make a habit of leaving any place I stop cleaner than I find it. I have a wheel bag that I take my rubbish with me to the next roadside bin for emptying. Sometimes passing several before finding an empty bin! I never leave my rubbish if bins are overflowing. We can’t all afford expensive travel rigs.
I live locally and drive past Wylie Park several times a week. Often I would use the toilets there and perhaps have lunch there.
Just before Christmas last year, 2 converted buses moved in there and stayed for weeks. One or the other would disappear for a few days, and then return. This kept on until the park was closed in June. I could name the buses by their signage.
As with many free camps such as this, particularly in a major city, unfortunately there are people who live in cars. Late afternoon one would see the same cars arrive for the night.
As for the tents, on one instance I counted 5 tents there. They were not backpackers or tourists. Unfortunately, it maybe the society we live in today, but some of tent people had their worldly belongings with them, similar to those people living in their cars.
The signage clearly stated self-contained motorhomes and caravans could stay for 48 hours. No tents were permitted. The council visited the park every day to clean the toilets and weekly for rubbish collection. From what I could see, it was not the fair dinkum traveller or grey nomad causing any concern or staying longer than permitted.
Why did the Council close the park. Well, they didn’t enforce their own by-laws. The same as last time it was closed. So if anyone is to be held accountable for closing Wylie Park, it the Council for its inaction.
Those two buses were there for 6 months and had been given notice to move several times by council. And they knew this place had been shut down before, for the same thing.
You’re right Alison. They are the are the 2 buses question, why did the Council take 6 months to move these people on from a 48 hour camp site!!!!!!!!
We are caravanners. We travel for about 6 months a year, and we have been doing so since 2003. We free camp whenever we can, but we respect the rules wherever we go, it’s not hard!!!!!!!!!!
Generators should only be used in truck stops not in free overnight spots. They should only be used to boost the battery bank. If you need air conditioners book into a caravan park. A solar panel is cheaper than a generator. Maybe we should put Big signs on our own vans stating we clean up after ourself and appreciate people that want to keep Australia beautiful.
Anything ‘free’ will be abused, there are too many bogan’s getting around, living off the Government as cheaply as possible, sucking up free air and second, third generations of irresponsible families who have never contributed anything in their lives.
The human species is getting worse.
No good beating about the bush!!
You’re dead right Helen……the 10% that spoil it for the rest of us is growing, bogans that don’t care !!!!!.
There wil be nothing left for honest people. Like normal a few bad apples stuff everything. But then again it gives council another excuse to make money or take things away.
Some campers are just pigs, we have been travelling for 3 months and have seen so much toilet paper left lying around the bush. It is truely embarrassing.
Have just come back from Townsville, and the same thing is happening there in relation to people over staying the 48 hours…
My sister lives just around the corner from the free park on the Bruce hwy north of Townsville….she see’s several of the same veh icles stay several weeks …obviously council rangers aren’t checking enough…
I don’t think this is down to grey nomads we are amongst them they’re not dirty or leave rubbish We have respect for others property try looking at the backpackers most often they can’t even respect the amenities in caravan parks
Be very careful who are making theses complaints. You might find with a little checking that they have a vested interest in having this place closed ..It happen before with another free patking place and found out it was the local who built up the story by just leaving crap around then ring the council and complain ..very easy to set up if you are a local and dont want the free park ..Thats ok we and others just bypass dont stop and dont buy fuel or food ..Just put a big x on our map and pass it around to others ,works well..move on to other happy places ..
Well I believe they need to clamp down on the hire of wiz bangs ( we all know who they are) on being hired our without adequate grey an black water facilities with most free camp areas all over Australia being littered with toilet paper and sh#t from these people, and I have seen it happen! so I know what I’m talking about. And we grey nomads get the blame. Most of them have 3-4 people in each vehicle so that adds up to a lot of sh#t. They come in after dark and leave before day break and leave it all behind.
I’d like to throw my 2 cents worth in on these discussions as it makes my blood boil!!….. I’m very annoyed by the small minority ruining it for the vast majority of travellers doing the ‘RIGHT THING’. My experience is nation-wide as I’ve just completed a nine (9) month journey on the BIG LOOP road around OZ.
Many of my over-nite stays were at what I fondly refer to as ‘Bush Camps.
I found of the travellers using these camps 99% were genuine grey nomads doing the right thing. The other 1% were free loaders in combi/Bongo (I am sure you’ve all experienced the Wicked Van travellers) using the facilities with total disregard for other campers. They play loud music till early morning, are messy and aggressive an overall nuisance to everyone trying to get a good nights rest before moving on in the morning. As with many such people they are a disgrace to the human race and in my own opinion are taking up valuable air just by existing. Such people have no respect for other travellers and only care about their own wants, needs and desires and the rest of us can just ‘go to hell’ for all they care……….. Signed by a ‘totally fed up’ Grey Nomad
Hear! Hear! Time for us to speak up. I will carry my Nulla, Nulla with me next time I front someone! It’s no good coming on here voicing our opinions, those ferals wouldn’t be on here anyway.
Helen