A Juicy issue - Council's response to budget campervans

: A right of passage or a right nuisance. Budget campers looking for a piece of paradise.

by Mat Churchill

Following on from the Newsport article 'Budget van travellers growth explosion' on Tuesday, we have since talked with Paul Hoye, Environmental Assessment Coordinator for Cairns Regional Council.

We asked Mr Hoye how Council sees the growing problem of budget travellers scouring the streets in search of a free site with a view.

The Newsport: What is the issue with budget campervans, such as those from Wicked, camping in public spaces?

Paul Hoye: Camping, including staying overnight in a van, in a public place without the approval of Council is an offence under the relevant local law. Many residents also resent that people are using public places to park their vans and spend the night for free.

Whilst 95% of these campers are quiet and cause no problems, a small minority are noisy and obtrusive resulting in an impact on residents or occupants of accommodation in the nearby vicinity.

NP: How is this issue being managed at present?

PH: Council local laws officers undertake daily early morning patrols of parks, reserves and other areas used by campers. These areas range from north of the Daintree River down to south of Wangetti. Campers are generally issued with a warning for the first offence and issued with a fine if they are found camping in a public place on another occasion.

Some evening and night patrols have also been undertaken in Port Douglas and new and larger signage has been placed in some of the problem areas.

Last year approximately 1000 campers were moved on in the former Douglas Shire area and in the calendar year to date 369 campers have been issued with warnings, information on camping areas or fined.

Currently, efforts to reduce public camping have been made more difficult as there is very limited space at many of the caravan parks .

NP: Is this action adequate? If not, what needs to happen?

PH: Current actions are adequate given the serious considerations of resources taken up by this issue and the fact that Council officers are restricted to action within the powers permitted under the local laws. One problem at the moment is where to send these campers. They can't be ordered to leave the Douglas area, and many want to stay close to Port Douglas or the beaches.

There may be future opportunities to restrict access to certain problematic spots such as parks and the Esplanade in Port Douglas through management plans and traffic and parking restrictions in residential areas.

NP: Is the CRC working with Port Douglas police to rectify the issue?

PH: Council staff have held a meeting with members of the Port Douglas police station to discuss the camping issues and options are being explored.

Editor's comment: Let us know your thoughts on the influx of budget campervans to the area. Is it an eyesore creating social issues, or should we just relax and greet them with open arms?

Have your say !

Bretto WindSwell, 25-07-10 07:20:

What happened to 4 mile van park ? I think they can't afford the $million price tag on a beach front camping spot

Monika Spicer, 24-07-10 15:12:

The only reason people get upset is because some vanpackers upset people. If they were minding their own business, did not polute - that includes noise and visual - then no-one would mind. But if they leave rubbish, pee in people's garden (or worse), use others pools, play loud music, leave hot ashes or fires burning on beaches - that people can step in, park in front of someone's view etc then of course they are going to be unpopular and make others unhappy. No one person should be able to negatively impact on another's enjoyment of a space. If they could stick to that then all is good. Otherwise, someone does have to step in - and the fine has to be high enough and the patrols often enough that there is no incentive to do the wrong thing.

John Carney, 24-07-10 06:44:

This is nonsense, council should fine these illegal campers straight away. 1000 warnings equates to $50,000 lost income. Currently we have illegals using our parks and beaches as toilets and rubbish dumps. Council should act to protect people paying rates.

Anne Maclachlan, 23-07-10 18:49:

Lets greet them with open arms, and next year we can greet ALL the caravans going to use these same free facilities as well, so then we can close the caravan parks and let everyone camp free. Because caravanners are going to want the same free facilities, free camping, free showers, free wc's, free refuge collection, ALL to be supplied by ??

Andrew Clout, 23-07-10 18:40:

It was mentioned in the reports that many of these camper van occupants were working in Port Douglas, maybe it would be possible for the large resorts to allocate a small area of land to allow their workers to park their campers.

mick , 23-07-10 18:25:

If these vans are self contained with toilet and shower then let them be whereever they are as they spend money stop the Hitler council crap.If they pollute and dont have toilet ,i.e wicked vans not at public toilets then fine them like smokers (haha gutless council) on the spot. If they make noise call the police and confiscate the vans. Think along the lines of "If I was doing this and not being a nuisance and was self contained with bath and toilet" then leave me be at a night or maybe 2 in certain parks. If it is public space then it belongs to everyone NOT THE COUNCIL. ie 4 mile beach.These people are here because they like the place and they are spending money to stay here.Mt Molloy has a free park with showers at their park.Why alienate them.Welcome them.

Fiona Colmore, 23-07-10 16:40:

Quite frankly we are sick and tired of the back packers as they park along the back streets and then think it is their right to pool crash for their nightly mid night bath and use the tiolet faciclites that are at the pool area for in-house PAYING guests only.
We have also been driving past these vans late at night to see the occupants of the camper vans/cars using the shrubs in private gardens for a toilet, grosse and discusting. It is not just vans, the B/Packers love the large station wagon type cars which look more discreet but are just as bad. The vans do not worry me as such but there must serously be a hygene issue.

Martin Tranter, 23-07-10 16:27:

The problem is not so much caused by an under supply of caravan places but rather a desire to avoid paying camping fees.

If you are trying to regulate a problem the best way to do it is set a a market price for that commodity.

Council should flip the problem over by issuing say a mandatory $20.00 fine for anyone found to be camping along the captain cook highway, the esplanade or along 4 mile beach. With a further fee or penalty being imposed if they stay there more than one night.

This would encourage either the vans to move away from the prime tourist locations without seeming draconian.