Camping on your own land.

hako · Guru

Camping on your own land.

Barboots · Senior Member

Waste management sounds pretty ordinary?

jules47 · The Happy Helper

Unfortunately, it is deemed that we CAN'T do anything we like on our own land - not very fair in this situation - the man pays his rates, but gets nothing from the council. Happens everywhere, guy I know lives in rural Victoria - the only thing they get from the council is rubbish pickup, and even then they all have to take their bins to a common corner, 100m from his house, 500m from his neighbours house. They do, however, make sure their dirt roads are graded regularly, probably the best maintained dirt roads around. Bit of a corrugation starting on a corner - on to the council - come and grade our road asap - the council are right on to it, within a day or two at the most!

jules47 · The Happy Helper

Unfortunately, it is deemed that we CAN'T do anything we like on our own land - not very fair in this situation - the man pays his rates, but gets nothing from the council. Happens everywhere, guy I know lives in rural Victoria - the only thing they get from the council is rubbish pickup, and even then they all have to take their bins to a common corner, 100m from his house, 500m from his neighbours house. They do, however, make sure their dirt roads are graded regularly, probably the best maintained dirt roads around. Bit of a corrugation starting on a corner - on to the council - come and grade our road asap - the council are right on to it, within a day or two at the most!

Lake Ballard - 60k w Menzies

DMaxer · Guru

I think you will find there is a little more to this story.

rockylizard · Guru

DMaxer wrote:
I think you will find there is a little more to this story.

Gday...

Smiley Shocked 01.jpg

Surely you aren't intimating a media story doesn't tell both sides to the fullest extent

I always thought, quite probably mistakenly, that most (all?) councils have bylaws/regulations controlling just what can be used as a residence on a block of land.

Including that a 'structure' meets a minimum 'standard' - following inspection and issuance of permit/s.

cry Jest sayin' cry

Cheers - John

brickies · Guru

It's called town planing

hako · Guru

There are thousands of similar people camping on their own land around Australia - I have a bro-in-law living in his caravan on his town block in a run down town near Kingaroy - no power/water/toilet but he loves it....just like free camping every night. The number of people doing similar will increase simply because they have nowhere else to go. Towns like Tara (QLD) have hundreds of blockies out of town living just like the bloke in the article. They live "illegally" but are tolerated because without them the townships would just blow away. They harm nobody and are out of sight. Better than sleeping rough in town or in their car.

Good Luck.

iana · Guru

I did a little research into just this sort of thing. It depends on the council or shire, and you have to have a shed that meets a certain standard, i.e. plumbed water, power and an approved sewage system, maybe even lined walls inside, we plan to see if we can set up such a place.

Eaglemax · Guru

Ive been a bylaws officer for 3 outer Melbourne regional councils. It often amuses me of the attitude of "its my land , I can do as I please". No you cant. If you pay rates and choose not to benefit from council services that's your decision. Rates also maintain footpaths, trim dangerous trees, remove dead animals from roads etc. Most people need these things done, hence rates for all. Rules are made for a reason. His toilet situation can spread disease, flies transfer causing health issues. Normally in Victoria temporary housing can only be obtained if you have a planning and/or building permit and have commenced building within two years...at least foundations. Plus a flushing toilet, shower and kitchen sink and septic system. What if a land owner nearby wants to sell land and the view is of an unsightly premises and has to sell for $20,000 less? "Its my land". What if he had kids on noisy 2 stroke motorbikes?? "Its my land". What if grey water ran downhill onto your property "its my land". If he visits town for supplies does he use the toilets footpaths that his rates contribute towards? Does he buy meat from a supermarket or butcher that the council health dept has ensured passes health standards? Ok. The flip side highlights a problem...affordable housing. If he qualifies for disability (very difficult) he would have still found the city hard to pay high rent. Caravan parks here in Victoria dont allow permanency (you must vacate at least one week in 8). So I sympathize to a degree. This is s big problem getting bigger. His error though was not checking with council. You dont buy a truck without checking you are licensed to drive it. And "its my land" doesnt cut it". Its OUR world.

Tony Bev · Guru

I will point out, that I have read about others, thinking of buying a block of land, as a home base for their RV

I believe that the moral to the story, may be, to do due diligence before you buy, to see if you are able to comply with the local rules, whatever they may be

I have no idea what the Menzies rules are, but obviously he is not complying with them

I am not for, or against this man, as others above have already said, there may be more to this story, than we know

rockylizard · Guru

Gday...

Some background to this bloke's predicament ...

https://ablis.business.gov.au/service/wa/approval-for-camping-on-private-or-unapproved-land/36605

Snipped from that website (scroll down and see it applies to the Shire of Menzies WA) -

WA 01.JPG

No matter how one may feel about the fairness or otherwise of this bloke's predicament, dem's da rools. hmm cry

Cheers - John

Bryan · Guru

I guess I got lucky, I spent the last two months in my caravan while the builder finished building my house.

macka17 · Guru

Best one I've seen. Is a "dutch Barn shed. High centre
9 ft sloping roofs on both sides. 35ft long 32 ft wide.
Car one side. Boat t'other. Caravan parks in centre section
Concrete floor across rear. Kitchen, Bathroom, Septic built in.
I think it mains nowadays. I'll ask him.
He sleeps in van when there normally, and needing heater-A\C.
Has a "floor" built across centre sect above Van roof. with
Lounge. TV coupla beds with dividers.
Translucent sheeting in areas. Plenty of light. Coupla high windows.
Dave Sometimes leaves Van up in Darwin. Drives down.
Has a block at Humpty Doo too.
Now that was an Interesting place 40 yrs ago.

Block on coast at Sellicks. Shed there over 20 yrs.
Has put in plans and laid slab for STD Oblong 3 bed home.
Pays rates. Neighbors know. Not a problem.
Council hasn't pushed him yet. Keeps garden tidy.

Bushpie · Guru

Sorry, he gets no sympathy from me. In this day and age no reason for him not to know the rules and he should abide by them.

RustyD · Guru

macka17 wrote:
Best one I've seen. Is a "dutch Barn shed. High centre
9 ft sloping roofs on both sides. 35ft long 32 ft wide.
Car one side. Boat t'other. Caravan parks in centre section
Concrete floor across rear. Kitchen, Bathroom, Septic built in.
I think it mains nowadays. I'll ask him.
He sleeps in van when there normally, and needing heater-A\C.
Has a "floor" built across centre sect above Van roof. with
Lounge. TV coupla beds with dividers.
Translucent sheeting in areas. Plenty of light. Coupla high windows.
Dave Sometimes leaves Van up in Darwin. Drives down.
Has a block at Humpty Doo too.
Now that was an Interesting place 40 yrs ago.
Block on coast at Sellicks. Shed there over 20 yrs.
Has put in plans and laid slab for STD Oblong 3 bed home.
Pays rates. Neighbors know. Not a problem.
Council hasn't pushed him yet. Keeps garden tidy.

That's what called a Shouse. (A shed house not a ****e house).

dorian · Guru

If a precedent were to be set in the land-owner's favour, I could envision a landscape littered with hovels and ferals.

Hey Jim · Guru

Hi Hako,

I do believe if he applies for a Machinery shed upon his property, there be no DA needed. The council can then go jump, as to what he puts within, is his business. If it meets 2Ha +.Does he have a mining right to this land????

My Brother did same in SA. Graded a (paddock)/ strip. Placed a Machinery shed upon. He fly's his plane over his neighbour's boundary at 500ft, well away from his home.

The only stipulation from the neighbour is, if he is going to crash, can he aim for his home so he can put in an insurance claim for a new house. biggrin biggrin biggrin CASA has no problems with that. and the council can't touch him, as they have no rights over the air space. biggrin biggrin biggrin .

Nice if you have the spare coin hmm .

Jim

rockylizard · Guru

Hey Jim wrote:
Hi Hako,
I do believe if he applies for a Machinery shed upon his property, ~~~SNIP
Jim

Gday...

Thereby hangs the tale Jim cry

From the little the media report gave us ... and the bit of research I have done ... he is in the proverbial as he just didn't apply for approval for anything.

Easy to be wise in hindsight I know ... but if ya find the honey ... ya gotta get past the bees first.

Cheers - John

-- Edited by rockylizard on Sunday 12th of November 2017 08:59:35 AM

STRETCH ARMSTRONG · Senior Member

I think some peoples views depend on how fat their wallet is. I feel sorry for anyone who is struggling to survive somewhere that makes them happy. I'm tired of people who can afford better telling people with not much to go and live somewhere else so it does not effect them. Yes l know many people trying to live on their bit of paradise in what others call slums/shacks/shipping containers. They call them homes and some need help from people who know better and have resources. Stretch.

macka17 · Guru

I lived on my Yachts for yrs off and on.
Also had a lot of mates same as.

A few or two also bought Insulated 20 and 10ft Containers. Park in back of boatyards. 20ft with 10 ft on back half of 20. with welded\ladder stairs up.

Some just got a 10 ft or 20 ft insul. for bedroom.
Live in, comfortably for yrs. Most boatyards had 3 ph.
so they could use the compressors if req'd in SA summers.

Council came along. "We live on boats". (LEGAL. Yards had tuts. Showers).
Cont's are for storage. Parts.
Was a good lurk for decades. But most yards have been taken over by councils and developers nowadays on Port River..
I know 5 blokes bought a block on riverbank. Built "workshop". with tuts and showers.
Stack of containers out back.
They live in containers and boats.. and just pop of for a coupla days sail if council sniffs round.
It's a nice little setup.

Tony Bev · Guru

A bit more news

A short video, below is the link, which gives a bit of insight of his land

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-11-14/fined-$50-a-day-for-living-on-his-own-property/9128776

In summary the $50 a day fine has now built up to over $7,000

The gent says that he is doing it, for freedom
Some townsfolk support his stance
Council say, that the rules are the rules