Who owns this great Land.

Yuglamron · Guru

Who owns this great Land.

Bruce and Bev · Guru

hear, hear !!!!!

They also run social workers, staff for disadvantaged people, entertainment staff (not for swimming pools) - I thought this was the job for State and Federal govts?? No wonder our land rates go up so much each year!!

Broome, WA will not allow free camping within their shire, covering many 1000's hectacres. One of the CP owners just happens to be the Mayor - hows that for conflict of interest. The CP's (which are SO expensive) and local businesses are all whingeing about how tourism has fallen off dramatically - well, provide free or low-cost camping (there are a couple of lower costs ones about an hour out of town) and we will go there and spend our money.

Instead WA's go to Bali. For one night in Broome, they can fly, stay, eat and get pissed for the same cost for a week in Bali

dazren · Guru

smile Very good post yuglamron, ! and i agree ! but will post comment later as i am not awake as yet, ? '' I NEED COFFEE "" NOW ""

banjo · Senior Member

I believe the Broome councilor in question has his "nose" in more than one local CP too ! he definitely has some major influence over free camping policies in the region (we lived there for a year in 2003 and learn't a few local secrets).

As an aside my daughter husband and three kids used to go to Broome for their annual holidays, fly in fly out to one of the resorts.

They now holiday in Bali for some 3 or 4 times a year for less than their annual week in Broome. They are currently there now ! 5star hotel in a nice area.

rockylizard · Guru

Gday...

Everything in life is a choice. We can exercise that choice in everything we do. Some choose a Nomad lifestyle.

Here are some choices ...

Prefer 01.jpg

Prefer 02.jpg

With all choices there are consequences - and compromises.

Cheers - and happy travelling and camping - John

dazren · Guru

RL I agree ! to a degree, ! and love your choices, But I think what Yuglamron is saying, is We are being denied those choices By people in authority, who have a conflict of interest, who either gain a position of power, or lobby people in those positions ! For better Personal gain, ! Not what is better for the whole community hmm

rockylizard · Guru

Gday...

Understand Dazren ... but it is all still down to choices.

Councils/communities make their choices ... they have the right (?) to change those choices over time. Whether "conflicted" or not, the decisions are taken for the benefit of 'the community'. Unfortunately, many councils do not see that the nomad/traveller is part of their "community". Australia is not "owned" by any of us under the system of government etc we inherited from the English who settled this land and made the laws. Even the first Australians do not "own this great land".

If communities change their choices/minds then so can/must we. If the services/facilities provided by a community are not to your liking - move on to places that do provide them ... and who probably will also welcome you.

Whether it is "conflict of interest" is a matter of opinion - subjective opinion in some cases.

In regard to councils, as with any 'elected representative group', they will sway with the breeze they see benefits them most.

Apart from any 'conflict of interest' regarding the Warrnambool Showgrounds there was also considerable pressure applied to council by the 'racing fraternity' to give them back "our venue".

Broome (and other such towns) have pressing "local reasons" apart from the 'greed' of van park owners and 'conflicted' councillors. They do not want 'illegal' camping in the streets in and around their town. They have a very diverse population and quite probably do not want to allow threats/accusations of 'treating some different to others'.

Who knows. We, most of the folk on this forum, have chosen a nomad, or traveller, lifestyle. The places visited, the places we sleep, are all a matter of choice for us. If the budget does not allow paying for places to sleep at places you want to visit, then travel to the many places where it fits the budget and enjoy a different experience.

Cheers - and as always ... happy travelling - John

Phillipn · Guru

Why are councils allowed to have so much power?, their is no provision in the Australian constitution for local government.

Cupie · Guru

And still in the face of all of this, some amongst us want to abolish State Govts. and have only Federal Govt and local councils.

dING · Senior Member

Vote 1 for anarchy that ul fix the problems

blaze · Guru

Nobody owns the land we are all only carers of the land for our life time and should try to leave it in a better condion than we found it
cheers
blaze

antigoon · Veteran Member

There may be no provision in the Australian constitution for local government but there certainly is within state legislation. Each state has one or more acts of legislation that stipulate, regulate and enforce the powers given local government. The councils are democratically elected by residents of the local government area to carry out the wishes of the community as permitted by the legislation. Councillors are residents of their communities so don't be surprised if they are involved with one or more local businesses. Conflicts of interest are entered in a public register and councillors are not permitted to vote on matters where a conflict of interest exists so the mayor in Broome would not be voting on matters related to his caravan park(s). You can confirm this from the council meeting minutes that are publicly available.

Travellers unhappy with the attitudes of the Broome council won't get far by grizzling. The most effective way to influence your local council is to be elected as a councillor and persuade your fellow councillors to your point of view; admittedly this is inconsistent with a nomad lifestyle, so you are left with supporting councillors who share your point of view or lobbying councillors to bring them to that view. Note however your opinion is not going to count as much as a resident, especially if the community at large do not want free camping, and even more so if it involves spending ratepayer funds.

In my experience regional councillors genuinely have community interests at heart and are sensitive to the preferences and priorities of their constituents, especially when it comes to where council funds are spent. If Broome residents do not want you camping at the showgrounds then don't be surprised there are local laws to enforce that prohibition. If they want camping permitted as they often do with rodeos, camp drafts, annual show and local events then permits are given ... simple as that. I am aware of a coastal community in Queensland that had the local laws changed this past season to directly deter nomads from camping in streets when there was a caravan park within the community and free camping available a short distance away.

Food for thought.

dING · Senior Member

But you are losing sight of the fact

That Laws are only made for 1 reason

To be broken if not why make them

Bruce and Bev · Guru

I hope you all read the other post about the radio jocks comments and the ink to the new Seniors political party being formed - starting in QLD.

There is an on-line party membership registration form and the party goals and rules. I have joined - have you?????????????

C'mon guys, stop just bitching and lets that the pollies on. It we have 2 gun lobby State pollies and a car head pollie who has real clout in the Senate and one of them got in by 0.01% of votes (his family), then imagine what us oldies can do - we can change things and stop the States and councils screwing us over - but only if we all do something about it rather than just grizzle all the time

jetj · Guru

I thought Cindy asked that we don't discuss politics on this forum.

-- Edited by jetj on Sunday 11th of January 2015 08:53:30 PM

Ontos45 · Guru

jetj wrote:
I thought Cindy asked that we don't discuss politics on this forum.

-- Edited by jetj on Sunday 11th of January 2015 08:53:30 PM

Seems the Majority think otherwise when it effects us an our Lifestyle. Can't be a stick in the mud all the time.

Webmaster · Guru

Hi everyone,
It seems like the whole debate around the issue of free camping is one that is going to ‘run and run’. Thanks all for your input on this thread. I am sure it will be a theme discussed again on many other threads in the future.