Great Ocean Road - Complaints about Free camping

petengail · Guru

Great Ocean Road - Complaints about Free camping

rockylizard · Guru

Gday...

Another case of the actions of the minority impacting on the freedoms of the majority.

Hopefully it will result in better identified 'proper' overnight spots.

Cheers

John

jimbo · Guru

I have just sent an unflattering email to their Council....On the rights of an Australian Citizen That the Coast line belongs to the people of Australia Not Bloody Greedier than Greedy Councils.....I never Mentioned who I was, so don't worry fellow Nomads...I expect to be arrested any day now as I had too give my name and address......But Fair Dinkum is'nt it cruel .the way that they ask some resident s usually the biggest whinger and say People are complaing....Rub their hands together and say "WOooo! How can we get a quid out of this..I know how it works... People really have to email and complain or they will walk all over us......

Cruising Granny · Guru

Good for you Jimbo. If you speak up, you have to be prepared to put your name to your thoughts. You may be surprised at the amount of support you'd get from the public if you put the letter in the paper.
Unless something changed this afternoon while I was having coffee with a neighbour, it's still a free country allowing FREE SPEECH.
Keep up the good work.

rockylizard · Guru

Gday...

100% agree with putting our oar in their water biggrin .

However, one of the problems is that if the "offenders" are backpackers with hire campervans who drive, stay for a look around, sleep where they parked and then just up and leave with a mess as their reminder, no wonder residents and councils get their knickers in a knot.

We have all seen the mess left at wayside stops on our highways by 'travellers' (not necessarily our sort of travellers) - bins overflowing ... KFC/Maccas muck all over the ground and about 100km to the nearest KFC/Maccas.

Like I said earlier - the careless, thoughtless minority cruel it for the sensible majority.

As long as representation can cause council/s to give a balanced 'ear' to the genuine travelling public we may get some progress.

Cheers and happy freedom-camping

John

jimbo · Guru

Thank you C G I feel much better now..........my wife reckons I go too far....I love her but she is a what will be will be person.......I' m not! We can afford the best if we want But i love the idea of freedom of choice...Not some damn Govt Dept telling me what is expected.....One can see what Happened to Europe a few years ago...And I'm worried it;s starting again....I don't mean to get to deep But I'm on a High tonight.......I have just joined to fight against their cruelty against our live stock that has been in the news this week.....I actually cried when I seen that program...

jimbo · Guru

rockylizard.... I do agree with you whle heartedly..."But! ..Why is it that it is always the Minority that does it.(Backpackers)......Do you suppose that it is so much easier for Councils and such too cast the blame without much thinking too do......I know meetings can drag on and members agree to whatever it takes to get home......

jimbo · Guru

petengail This is your Fault! Keep up the good work on drawing our attention to these injustices

rockylizard · Guru

jimbo wrote:

rockylizard.... I do agree with you whle heartedly..."But! ..Why is it that it is always the Minority that does it.(Backpackers)......Do you suppose that it is so much easier for Councils and such too cast the blame without much thinking too do......I know meetings can drag on and members agree to whatever it takes to get home......

Gday...

The problem is the mongrels are elected and they keep wanting to be elected..........so they focus only on trying to keep everyone happy .... rather than looking at a problem and making a sensible, balanced decision ..... damn, I used that word in relation to elected officials ...... decision ..... damn ...... not allowed to have elected and decision in the same sentence..

Keep up the fight though

Cheers

John

jimricho · Guru

Quote...
Port Campbell residents have reported seeing up to 12 campervans and lean-to tents set up along the town's foreshore streets every night during the summer months
End Quote...

If I lived in Port Campbell I'd object too. I'd want to know why the council rangers or whoever is responsible are not moving them on and fining them if necessary. Perhaps those who think they've some selfish god-given right to camp wherever they please, without due regard for others, should publish their address and invite people to come and camp in front of their place and leave behind their rubbish and worse.

Camping is permitted in many of the roadside rest areas, as many GNs who use these rest areas well know, and that's where they should go if they want to free camp, rather than spoiling the local amenity of pretty little villages like Port Campbell.

-- Edited by jimricho on Wednesday 15th of June 2011 06:54:44 AM

tonyd · Guru

Jimbo, well done on joining the fight against the disgusting livestock export trade. I see that gutless Gillard is already backing down and the whole tragic tale is about to restart. I believe they have grossly underestimated the public revulsion on this one and it ain't over yet. Cheers, Tony

NeilandRaine · Guru

For those who travel a lot you could say that backpackers are not necessarily the minority. When they converge they are the majority (and they usually live like pigs). For sure caravaners take advantage of free LEGAL camps, you rarely see caravans camped up on foreshores etc. A few spots that come to mind that are abused by WIZ BANGS that give all free campers a bad name. Home Hill, any beach front on the Gold Coast and Sydney. Unfortunately councils dont discriminate. I was told when travelling the Great Ocean Road earlier this year councils get enough tourists and the towns do ok, they dont need Grey Nomads free camping so it is discouraged. On the other hand councils that encourage grey nomads, (Ravenshoe comes to mind), go out of their way to provide free camps.
My solution is only spend in towns that support us.

jimricho · Guru

According to my Camps 4 book (yes, I'm behind the times I know) Home Hill (next to the train station) is a free camp with a stay limit of 48 hours. I've seen people setting up there when I've stopped for a lunch break. I guess that means that the Fritzes in Britzes and the Wickeds can give us a bad legally!

ChiChi1 · Guru

If the "tourists" in Wizz bangs etc are causing such littering problems why doesn't the council in question fine them on the spot? Even if the fines are sent to the hiring co wouldn't they still get the message?

I guess what I'm saying is fine them, fine them, fine them. They are breaking the law. This includes everybody. Last time I heard it was an offence to litter. Its about time councils picked up their game.

Also, property owners, developers do not own the council area parking lots. We the public, should have free access to beaches etc. and the right to park our vehicles in allocated spaces whilst we enjoy the amenities that have been provided. They have no right to restrict that access because it spoils their view or makes the road in front of their houses too busy and noisy.

Pets are often not allowed in these premium spots. There are also legal ways of fixing the problems here as well. If the pets drops little presents and the owner does not clean up, then fine them for littering. If they are not restrained and cause a problem, then there is also laws against this. More bins emptied regularly would also help.

Large threatening signs, and patrols to enforce should fix it. Putting a blanket ban on everything is not solving the problem and only restricts the freedoms of those who do the right thing. I wonder how long it will be before we ordinary people are unable to visit public areas because of the various bans they seem to be inventing every five minutes. I have already been excluded from National Parks.

Councils don't just forbid, do something!!!
Everybody do the right thing!!

Well, thats my rant for the year, mild mannered reporter that I am. Hope I didn't upset anyone.

NeilandRaine · Guru

jimricho wrote:
According to my Camps 4 book (yes, I'm behind the times I know) Home Hill (next to the train station) is a free camp with a stay limit of 48 hours. I've seen people setting up there when I've stopped for a lunch break. I guess that means that the Fritzes in Britzes and the Wickeds can give us a bad legally!

Home hill is a 48 hour only and for a while it was getting out of hand. Now a ranger comes around and puts a 48 hour notice on the vehicles when I was there last year a ranger kicked about 6 vans out at 8 pm. they are taking a stand.

jimricho · Guru

That's good to hear Neil, I find it a handy rest stop, especially for a wee break (pun intended) and I've had difficulty at times getting a park.

I rarely free camp (I'm not set up for it) but I'm all for having these camp spots available especially for those travelling on limited budgets but unfortunately there are others that can only be described as selfish "cheapskates" that overstay their welcome to the detriment of others.

Jim

PS: I left the word "name" out of my previous post...it should read..... "...give us a bad name legally" (the sentence might make more sense now)

-- Edited by jimricho on Friday 17th of June 2011 07:12:36 AM

Esmeralda · Guru

NeilandRaine wrote:
For those who travel a lot you could say that backpackers are not necessarily the minority. When they converge they are the majority (and they usually live like pigs). For sure caravaners take advantage of free LEGAL camps, you rarely see caravans camped up on foreshores etc. A few spots that come to mind that are abused by WIZ BANGS that give all free campers a bad name. Home Hill, any beach front on the Gold Coast and Sydney. Unfortunately councils dont discriminate. I was told when travelling the Great Ocean Road earlier this year councils get enough tourists and the towns do ok, they dont need Grey Nomads free camping so it is discouraged. On the other hand councils that encourage grey nomads, (Ravenshoe comes to mind), go out of their way to provide free camps.
My solution is only spend in towns that support us.

Is there a list somewhere of grey nomad friendly towns?

jimricho · Guru

Yep! sure is....

click on these links

http://www.cmca.net.au/pages/motorhoming_information/cmca_schemes/rv_friendly/index.php

http://www.cmca.net.au/pages/motorhoming_information/cmca_schemes/rv_friendly/RVFriendlyTowns1.php

Esmeralda · Guru

Thanks Jim

robell · Senior Member

jimbo wrote:
Thank you C G I feel much better now..........my wife reckons I go too far....I love her but she is a what will be will be person.......I' m not! We can afford the best if we want But i love the idea of freedom of choice...Not some damn Govt Dept telling me what is expected.....One can see what Happened to Europe a few years ago...And I'm worried it;s starting again....I don't mean to get to deep But I'm on a High tonight.......I have just joined to fight against their cruelty against our live stock that has been in the news this week.....I actually cried when I seen that program...

Hi JIMBO, I COULDN'T AGREE WITH YOU MORE ON THAT PARTICULAR SUBJECT, I HAVE SEEN IT WITH MY OWN EYES AND MATE, BELIEVE ME, IF YOU CRIED AT A PHOTO, YOU WOULD BAWL YOURS EYES OUT AT THE REAL THING.

i HAVE SEEN SHEEP CRAMED INTO SHIPS LIKE SARDINES IN A CAN AND WHEN THE SHIP IS UNDERWAY THEY GO THROUGH THEM EVERY COUPLE OF DAYS AND THROW OUT THE DEAD ONES, AND THE SAME APPLIES TO ANYTHING THAT THEY SEND OFF IN SHIPS ALIVE, THE DEATH TOLL IS BLOODY AWFUL.

I HAVE BEEN AGAINST THIS FORM OF TRANSPORTATION FROM THE VERY START, TO HELL WITH LIVE EXPORT, IF THEY DONT WANT TO BUY MEAT KILLED IN OZ, LET THEM GET IT FROM ELSEWHERE. Rob