2014-04-28 General Committee Meeting Agenda Pages 65-200

GENERAL COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA                                                    28 APRIL 2014


2. Illegal Camping

The use of a structure or vehicle for temporary occupancy on land that is controlled by the Noosa
Council is governed by Local Law No. 1 (Administration) 2011: Part 2. Under this law camping is
prohibited on Council controlled land.

Within Noosa Shire, illegal camping in vehicles and occasionally tents is occurring in most
coastal areas. Illegal overnight stays in heavily populated residential areas cause noise and
disruption to residents. A large number of overnight campers leave rubbish behind and faeces
that must be cleaned up and in some cases illegal campers have also vandalised local toilets.

Since January 2014, Council local law officers have received numerous complaints, including
one from an existing commercial caravan park manager who advised the recent increase in
illegal camping has had a significant impact on their business.

The problem of illegal camping in Noosa coastal areas over the past 5 years has been
exacerbated by:
    a significant reduction in the number of patrols undertaken by local law officers from 2008
     to 2013;
    campervan hire companies advising customers they can free camp in any location;
    phone apps advising illegal locations within Noosa for free camping;
    other agencies perceptions e.g. police, about advising people they can camp in their
     vehicles at the Spit due to lack of awareness of local laws;
    QPWS undertaking limited patrols at the Noosa Heads car park; and
    the increase in visitors choosing the camping/caravan option.

This issue of illegal camping predominantly in campervans is occurring across the State with
Councils responding in different ways eg:
    Townsville allows free camping but has multiple issues such as overcrowding, grey water
     draining into local resident properties and extended periods of stay.
    Fraser Coast Regional Council allows sleeping overnight in vehicles where signed and in
     2011 established nine new campsites, including the Maryborough Showgrounds.
    Cooktown operated an 8 month trial rest area charging $5 per vehicle per night. A dump
     ezy was installed, rubbish bins and a tap. Vehicles were inspected by Council officers to
     ensure they were fully self-contained (grey water and backwater tanks) prior to campers
     receiving a permit. Research identified $73,977 was spent in shire during duration of the
     trial. The rest area trial has been extended for another 2 years.
    Darwin has a major illegal camping problem and has provided extra resources to increase
     patrols in the central town area. This has resulted in illegal campers moving to more
     discrete locations. Only 30% of fines to backpackers for offences are recovered.

In approximately 2010, Council officers wrote to a number of camper van hire companies
including Wicked Campers, Juicy Rentals, Space Ships, Britz, Apollo Campers, Kea Campers,
Hippie Campers, Travel Wheels etc. alerting them to the fact that free camping is not permitted in
most areas of the Sunshine Coast, with on the spot penalties being as high as $500. The letter
provided a “Sunshine Coast Camping Areas” flyer that could easily be photocopied and supplied
to their clients. At the time this had a positive, albeit minor, influence in reducing the number of
illegal campers.




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