Time to Roam Magazine Issue 13 - February/March 2015 | Page 7
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upfront industry news
Summer surf hordes
give free campers
a bad name
BY MEGAN NORTON
An influx of campervans parking illegally
and leaving a mess at iconic east coast
beach locations has prompted calls for
more restrictions on free camping.
powers to move on illegal camper vans.
Byron Bay Council rangers successfully
issued court notices to ten illegally parked
campers over the New Year period. The
local magistrate has so far issued fines
totalling more than $5000. Those charged
included three groups of German tourists.
Meanwhile free camping proponents have
expressed dismay at the bad publicity the
mostly young travellers have elicited. Longterm grey nomad travellers who scrupulously
adhere to the “leave no trace” ethos resent
being associated with the anti-social
behaviour depicted in the media.
out of control, with many of the campers
from overseas oblivious to directions from
rangers and unconcerned about fines.
Waverley Council Mayor, Sally Betts,
says Bondi residents are fed up after
the latest summer shenanigans.
“We cannot afford to have backpackers
sleeping here at night taking up the
parking spaces,” Cr Betts said.
“They cook on the side of the street. They pour
the fat from their cooking into the storm water
drains. They do all sorts of bad things in the area.”
Cr Betts is lobbying the NSW Government
to strengthen legislation to give rangers more
MANAGER
THE
An influx of campervans parking illegally
and leaving a mess at iconic east coast
beach locations has prompted calls for
more restrictions on free camping.
Sydney’s Bondi Beach along with
Stockton Beach at Newcastle, Byron
Bay in NSW and Bells Beach in Victoria
reported unexpected hordes of campers
over Christmas and New Year.
Residents’ complaints include public
nuisance and health concerns: littering,
drinking in alcohol free zones, laundry
being hung in public areas and people
brushing their teeth on footpaths.
Local councils say the problem is
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Issue 13 Feb/Mar 2015
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