Well from what I've seen in last 4 months, especially in QLD it's no wonder they are closing free camps.
Some may remember in April this year when we hit the road again I was vociferous (nice word) in support of free camps, but having seen the abuses like:
Severe overstaying along beaches in QLD, with vans 60cm apart, rubbish left, dumping grey water striaght into rivers, toilet waste at rest stops, tissues everywhere around rest stops on the ground, washing bodies in rivers (live ones) with soap etc, Gn's taking prime tables etc at dams from locals on weekends etc etc I now see why some parts of QLD must be absolutely sick and tired of campers and vanners in general.
We spoke to some really nice locals at Bundoora Dam who couldn't use their facilities on weekends because of campers/vanners in their picnic spots, NOT content to hang back 30 metres from water. They were philosophical about it and nice guys but you could tell it was wearing thin,,, example, motorhome with 4wd behind parked right next to and using coverred picnic table for 2 people only, when they have all the facilities they need AND then they had the hide to park their 4WD to shield them from visitors RIGHT BESIDE ANOTHER PICNIC TABLE. SO YOU SEE THERE IS A PROBLEM.
Anyway totally flabergasted (another good word) when I caught this guy in mens toilet this morning - he closed and locked all the cubicles (they have button lock inside doors so he locked and closed em). Owner called to open em and sort out.
Well that's more than 2 cents worth today,,,, end of my rant,, ahhhhhhhh they are out there.
-- Edited by Baz421 on Monday 2nd of September 2013 04:48:41 PM
-- Edited by Baz421 on Monday 2nd of September 2013 04:58:20 PM
Happywanderer said
08:10 PM Sep 2, 2013
Balonne Minor Bridge 3 ks west of Dirranbandi free camp is now closed to any camping.
I called in there to stay the night on my way north a couple weeks ago only to find no one there and a sign up saying No Camping and a list of towns where there is free camping.
I did take photos of the sign but not able to put them on here at moment.
In Camps Aus Wide # 7 it is 755.
I have rung the info centre suggested on the sign and they have confirmed this is correct. The decision was made back in February but the sign only went up in the last few weeks.
This spot is halfway between St George and the border, for anyone not sure where I'm talking about.
herbie said
08:49 PM Sep 2, 2013
Almost weekly we are hearing of a free camp being closed.
We stayed at the free camp (Calliope River) the other night on way back from recent trip away and now there is no camping on the southern side (signs erected ) there was still three vans and a motor home parked up there camping.
These type of people will wonder way the other side will end up closed also.
The people who do the right thing always pay for the ones who don't.
glassies said
12:34 AM Sep 5, 2013
I can understand your rant baz421 ,but honestly i think the minority and majority do differ,
there are a lot of pleasant ,law abiding citizens travelling this wonderful country of ours,
and honestly can you name something for free in this country, i cant not realy except
free camps, i hope they dont do this to most of them ,i for one cannot stand camping
in c/van parks not unless i realy have to i would prefer to be out at a free camp.
but i do understand how locals must feel in there territory ,however if i have ever been
free camped like that i have always made sure that if locals come for a ski on a river or whatever
that i make them feel we are keen to share the facilities, table etc.
its common senses and unfortunately there are a few people who dont use this when camping
very sad actualy i have travelled in my past to so many places, i have no idea what it would be like now
in the outback and other places like st george etc,because its been 11 years since i did my last trip
to the cape or gulf ,used to do it yearly,and at the time then you could camp in so many spots
but we never ever left a mess.
And in fact most of the mess was left from young ones that lives in the towns and drove out of town to
party at night and light fires, drink grog ,leave all the bottles behind and even smashed ones too.
The dog lady said
02:02 AM Sep 5, 2013
I agree with you glassies that it is usually not the GNs who leave the mess behind. However I have seen some selfish MHers who monopolise seating & tables to the exclusion of others (be they local day-trippers or other campers) even tho they clearly have everything they need on board. It would be a great shame if we lose more free campsites because a minority behave selfishly causing all GNs to be blamed.
But I really thought the south side of Calliope river was only closed because of the flood damage. Surely it would be a complete waste of the facilities there to close it. And by the way, the only time I have seen the covered seating there monopolised was by young people who used them in place of tents. It's hardly fair to pin that on the GNs!
jetj said
02:06 AM Sep 5, 2013
The locals who pay the rates for the maintenance, and not able to use the area. Not surprising they're closing the area to camping. It's a shame that a few doing the wrong thing will spoilt it for 10 or more times as many doing the right thing.
The dog lady said
02:13 AM Sep 5, 2013
But if that really is the problem, why can't they just cordon off the day use area and still allow free camping in the rest. I'm at Bedford Weir at the moment and that has a section that is marked no camping which is for the local ski club.
BTW, although it's rather dry and dusty at the moment, this is a great place to stay and I think the credit for that goes to the caretakers
gordon_adl said
04:55 AM Sep 5, 2013
Here in lies the problem. This forum is of a group of like minded individuals, but only a very small portion of total caravanors. Whilst 98% here will do the right thing, we are only a very small portion of people on the road.
To assume its mostly just international backpackers leaving the messes is turning a blind eye to the fact that it is normal Aussie families, short term holidayers, long termers and yes, other gn's who do this.
It is not just a small percentage that leave sites dirty, stay too long and hog sites, but rather a majority who ruin it for the few who do it right.
jetj wrote:
. It's a shame that a few doing the wrong thing will spoilt it for 10 or more times as many doing the right thing.
herbie said
06:12 AM Sep 5, 2013
Agree in what your saying Gordon, when we stayed at Calliope river camp QLD last week, the area that is closed off to camping now, there was three caravans and a motor home parked up in the no go area,and sorry to say they all had the CMCA stickers, so not all g/ns sure as hell do not do the right thing.
The hogging of prime beachside real estate is one of many things that get up other travellers noses, is it they think they have some god given right to sit for day/weeks in these places and have no considerations for anyone other than their own travelling pleasures.
While we were away this last time,along the NQLD coast we stayed in low cost or caravan parks or at families properties (Mission Beach / Mareeba ) due to people just moving from one camp onto the next so never any room for anyone else.
We did get jacked off over this and mentioned to a couple did they not pay for any camping along this coast
the answer they gave us shocked us all,they said No way do we pay any where other wise we wouldn't leave home ( would you believe they said they lived in Cairns )
Baz421 said
07:58 PM Sep 5, 2013
herbie wrote:
the answer they gave us shocked us all,they said No way do we pay any where other wise we wouldn't leave home ( would you believe they said they lived in Cairns )
Herbie we have been told this also,,, plus the council is considering a levy per night at Fletchers Ck, mainly to cover garbage removal costs,,, a few said they would never come again if it was as low as $5 PN?????
jetj said
09:21 PM Sep 5, 2013
gordon_adl wrote:
To assume its mostly just international backpackers leaving the messes is turning a blind eye to the fact that it is normal Aussie families, short term holidayers, long termers and yes, other gn's who do this.
It is not just a small percentage that leave sites dirty, stay too long and hog sites, but rather a majority who ruin it for the few who do it right.
You know I'm hearing this more and more, and from sources I trust who have nothing to gain by not telling it how it really is.
rockylizard said
09:56 PM Sep 5, 2013
Baz421 wrote:
herbie wrote:
the answer they gave us shocked us all,they said No way do we pay any where other wise we wouldn't leave home ( would you believe they said they lived in Cairns )
Herbie we have been told this also,,, plus the council is considering a levy per night at Fletchers Ck, mainly to cover garbage removal costs,,, a few said they would never come again if it was as low as $5 PN?????
Gday...
People continue to amaze and confound me ... I am so glad I am a "lone camper" as much as I can.
During June/July/August there must be between 80 to 100 vans/campers at Fletchers Creek every night - which is therefore about 160 to 200 people ... plus pets
Surely SOMEONE must realise that, unless ya take out wot ya brung in, then SOMEONE has to clean up ya mess. GEEZ, the council trucks in water every few days to fill the tanks so campers can shower and flush their ablutions. The same bloke cleans the amenities and empties the rubbish bin/s.
SOMEONE pays - and that SOMEONE is the council with ratepayers' money. A charge of $5/night is a pittance to cover such great service from the community.
I don't feel as strongly as herbie does on this ... but the vast majority of GNs (and other travellers) not on this forum (or other like-minded forums) who continue to treat these camps this way are certainly going to ruin the lifestyle I and others enjoy.
I think it is time those of us who feel these campers are 'unreasonable' begin to gently (?) remind them they are out of step with "civilised campers".
Cheers - John
herbie said
10:15 PM Sep 5, 2013
What are these people going to do when these special places are no longer available to use for nothing?
I would rather start paying now the few dollars to help keep these magic places open for us to use, rather than have them closed due to the councils not being able to find the funding to keep them open.
In some areas it can take up to $17.000 per year just to keep the toilets open (septic pumped out/ cleaned ) and that is not counting in the rubbish removal and the area maintained.
In most cases these areas get very little use from the locals who are paying to keep them open. (in most cases there is no room for the local community to camp/picnic in the area.
If we don't come to terms with the realization that the the free lunches are almost over and pay our way we all will be faced with the only choice of what caravan park we will be staying and paying through the nose to stay in.
If we start to pay our way with a few dollars per night towards keeping these places open we will still have a choice as where we want or can camp.
And as for people saying they wont be back to Fletcher Creek if they have to pay, that is so sad to think they expect this free camping to be laid on for their enjoyment. ..
-- Edited by herbie on Thursday 5th of September 2013 10:28:51 PM
beiffe said
04:20 PM Sep 6, 2013
It is a sad affair, but it will get worse as the nomad numbers increase.
I am a bush/independent camper so it effects me.
I am not a tight ward and I do have a policy that I ALWAYS spent money in a town where I camp and I save this expenditure for the towns where I stay.
If I am forced into a CP then that town gets no other money and if I am not permitted to camp in a local area that then that is OK, I just move on.
I am lucky that I have many areas where I have worked doing voluntary work so have options not normally available but when revisiting these areas I always find something to do to repay the privilege to stay.
IF I went into a rest stop and it has many people I would move on. I prefer a max of perhaps 10 Rv's and that is only in an area where there is lots of room for respectable space between each.
When I camp I always use a rubbish bag and my picker and collect rubbish around my spot, and I always try to encourage others to do the same thing.
If I see a person dropping rubbish I get a bag and my picker and pick it up in front of them and then explain we MUST keep these areas clean or we will loose them soon and they will not be able to travel as we do.
I think it is the responsibility of us long term (or the ones who have accepted the message) to try and educate the new travelers and this goes to the foreign travel who many like to blame for much of our problems. Just remember that these tourist don't usually need nappies the same we nomads normally don't but I am always picking up used nappies where ever I go.
If you find something with an address you can take it to the local council if you are that way inclined and they may prosecute the person involved. Many people use the camp site bins to get rid of their household rubbish. I have often see people come in and drop three or more rubbish bags into a bin or worse still along side it as they cant be bothered getting out of their car.
This is also one of the reasons I like to keep my good rest stops private, I am often privileged to get sites that the locals like to keep to themselves so I respect this and keep it private.
Just the way I travel, this is my way of doing it so don't get upset if you travel differently.
Well from what I've seen in last 4 months, especially in QLD it's no wonder they are closing free camps.
Some may remember in April this year when we hit the road again I was vociferous (nice word) in support of free camps, but having seen the abuses like:
Severe overstaying along beaches in QLD, with vans 60cm apart, rubbish left, dumping grey water striaght into rivers, toilet waste at rest stops, tissues everywhere around rest stops on the ground, washing bodies in rivers (live ones) with soap etc, Gn's taking prime tables etc at dams from locals on weekends etc etc I now see why some parts of QLD must be absolutely sick and tired of campers and vanners in general.
We spoke to some really nice locals at Bundoora Dam who couldn't use their facilities on weekends because of campers/vanners in their picnic spots, NOT content to hang back 30 metres from water. They were philosophical about it and nice guys but you could tell it was wearing thin,,, example, motorhome with 4wd behind parked right next to and using coverred picnic table for 2 people only, when they have all the facilities they need AND then they had the hide to park their 4WD to shield them from visitors RIGHT BESIDE ANOTHER PICNIC TABLE. SO YOU SEE THERE IS A PROBLEM.
Anyway totally flabergasted (another good word) when I caught this guy in mens toilet this morning - he closed and locked all the cubicles (they have button lock inside doors so he locked and closed em). Owner called to open em and sort out.
Well that's more than 2 cents worth today,,,, end of my rant,, ahhhhhhhh they are out there.
-- Edited by Baz421 on Monday 2nd of September 2013 04:48:41 PM
-- Edited by Baz421 on Monday 2nd of September 2013 04:58:20 PM
Balonne Minor Bridge 3 ks west of Dirranbandi free camp is now closed to any camping.
I called in there to stay the night on my way north a couple weeks ago only to find no one there and a sign up saying No Camping and a list of towns where there is free camping.
I did take photos of the sign but not able to put them on here at moment.
In Camps Aus Wide # 7 it is 755.
I have rung the info centre suggested on the sign and they have confirmed this is correct. The decision was made back in February but the sign only went up in the last few weeks.
This spot is halfway between St George and the border, for anyone not sure where I'm talking about.
Almost weekly we are hearing of a free camp being closed.
We stayed at the free camp (Calliope River) the other night on way back from recent trip away and now there is no camping on the southern side (signs erected ) there was still three vans and a motor home parked up there camping.
These type of people will wonder way the other side will end up closed also.
The people who do the right thing always pay for the ones who don't.
there are a lot of pleasant ,law abiding citizens travelling this wonderful country of ours,
and honestly can you name something for free in this country, i cant not realy except
free camps, i hope they dont do this to most of them ,i for one cannot stand camping
in c/van parks not unless i realy have to i would prefer to be out at a free camp.
but i do understand how locals must feel in there territory ,however if i have ever been
free camped like that i have always made sure that if locals come for a ski on a river or whatever
that i make them feel we are keen to share the facilities, table etc.
its common senses and unfortunately there are a few people who dont use this when camping
very sad actualy i have travelled in my past to so many places, i have no idea what it would be like now
in the outback and other places like st george etc,because its been 11 years since i did my last trip
to the cape or gulf ,used to do it yearly,and at the time then you could camp in so many spots
but we never ever left a mess.
And in fact most of the mess was left from young ones that lives in the towns and drove out of town to
party at night and light fires, drink grog ,leave all the bottles behind and even smashed ones too.
I agree with you glassies that it is usually not the GNs who leave the mess behind. However I have seen some selfish MHers who monopolise seating & tables to the exclusion of others (be they local day-trippers or other campers) even tho they clearly have everything they need on board. It would be a great shame if we lose more free campsites because a minority behave selfishly causing all GNs to be blamed.
But I really thought the south side of Calliope river was only closed because of the flood damage. Surely it would be a complete waste of the facilities there to close it. And by the way, the only time I have seen the covered seating there monopolised was by young people who used them in place of tents. It's hardly fair to pin that on the GNs!
The locals who pay the rates for the maintenance, and not able to use the area. Not surprising they're closing the area to camping. It's a shame that a few doing the wrong thing will spoilt it for 10 or more times as many doing the right thing.
But if that really is the problem, why can't they just cordon off the day use area and still allow free camping in the rest. I'm at Bedford Weir at the moment and that has a section that is marked no camping which is for the local ski club.
BTW, although it's rather dry and dusty at the moment, this is a great place to stay and I think the credit for that goes to the caretakers
Agree in what your saying Gordon, when we stayed at Calliope river camp QLD last week, the area that is closed off to camping now, there was three caravans and a motor home parked up in the no go area,and sorry to say they all had the CMCA stickers, so not all g/ns sure as hell do not do the right thing.
The hogging of prime beachside real estate is one of many things that get up other travellers noses, is it they think they have some god given right to sit for day/weeks in these places and have no considerations for anyone other than their own travelling pleasures.
While we were away this last time,along the NQLD coast we stayed in low cost or caravan parks or at families properties (Mission Beach / Mareeba ) due to people just moving from one camp onto the next so never any room for anyone else.
We did get jacked off over this and mentioned to a couple did they not pay for any camping along this coast
the answer they gave us shocked us all,they said No way do we pay any where other wise we wouldn't leave home ( would you believe they said they lived in Cairns )
Herbie we have been told this also,,, plus the council is considering a levy per night at Fletchers Ck, mainly to cover garbage removal costs,,, a few said they would never come again if it was as low as $5 PN?????
You know I'm hearing this more and more, and from sources I trust who have nothing to gain by not telling it how it really is.
Gday...
People continue to amaze and confound me
... I am so glad I am a "lone camper" as much as I can.
During June/July/August there must be between 80 to 100 vans/campers at Fletchers Creek every night - which is therefore about 160 to 200 people ... plus pets
Surely SOMEONE must realise that, unless ya take out wot ya brung in, then SOMEONE has to clean up ya mess. GEEZ, the council trucks in water every few days to fill the tanks so campers can shower and flush their ablutions. The same bloke cleans the amenities and empties the rubbish bin/s.
SOMEONE pays - and that SOMEONE is the council with ratepayers' money.
A charge of $5/night is a pittance to cover such great service from the community.
I don't feel as strongly as herbie does on this ... but the vast majority of GNs (and other travellers) not on this forum (or other like-minded forums) who continue to treat these camps this way are certainly going to ruin the lifestyle I and others enjoy.
I think it is time those of us who feel these campers are 'unreasonable' begin to gently (?) remind them they are out of step with "civilised campers".
Cheers - John
What are these people going to do when these special places are no longer available to use for nothing?
I would rather start paying now the few dollars to help keep these magic places open for us to use, rather than have them closed due to the councils not being able to find the funding to keep them open.
In some areas it can take up to $17.000 per year just to keep the toilets open (septic pumped out/ cleaned ) and that is not counting in the rubbish removal and the area maintained.
In most cases these areas get very little use from the locals who are paying to keep them open. (in most cases there is no room for the local community to camp/picnic in the area.
If we don't come to terms with the realization that the the free lunches are almost over and pay our way we all will be faced with the only choice of what caravan park we will be staying and paying through the nose to stay in.
If we start to pay our way with a few dollars per night towards keeping these places open we will still have a choice as where we want or can camp.
And as for people saying they wont be back to Fletcher Creek if they have to pay, that is so sad to think they expect this free camping to be laid on for their enjoyment. ..
-- Edited by herbie on Thursday 5th of September 2013 10:28:51 PM
I am a bush/independent camper so it effects me.
I am not a tight ward and I do have a policy that I ALWAYS spent money in a town where I camp and I save this expenditure for the towns where I stay.
If I am forced into a CP then that town gets no other money and if I am not permitted to camp in a local area that then that is OK, I just move on.
I am lucky that I have many areas where I have worked doing voluntary work so have options not normally available but when revisiting these areas I always find something to do to repay the privilege to stay.
IF I went into a rest stop and it has many people I would move on. I prefer a max of perhaps 10 Rv's and that is only in an area where there is lots of room for respectable space between each.
When I camp I always use a rubbish bag and my picker and collect rubbish around my spot, and I always try to encourage others to do the same thing.
If I see a person dropping rubbish I get a bag and my picker and pick it up in front of them and then explain we MUST keep these areas clean or we will loose them soon and they will not be able to travel as we do.
I think it is the responsibility of us long term (or the ones who have accepted the message) to try and educate the new travelers and this goes to the foreign travel who many like to blame for much of our problems. Just remember that these tourist don't usually need nappies the same we nomads normally don't but I am always picking up used nappies where ever I go.
If you find something with an address you can take it to the local council if you are that way inclined and they may prosecute the person involved. Many people use the camp site bins to get rid of their household rubbish. I have often see people come in and drop three or more rubbish bags into a bin or worse still along side it as they cant be bothered getting out of their car.
This is also one of the reasons I like to keep my good rest stops private, I am often privileged to get sites that the locals like to keep to themselves so I respect this and keep it private.
Just the way I travel, this is my way of doing it so don't get upset if you travel differently.
Regards
Brian
Regards
Brian