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

GENERAL COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA                                                     28 APRIL 2014


In response to recent community concerns:
    Patrols by Noosa Council local law officers have been increased. However:
     o     there is difficulty in enforcing local by-laws due to the early departure and late arrivals
           of well-informed free campers;
     o     due to the existing certified agreement, there are limitations when officers can
           commence patrols in the morning;
     o     due to appeals, fines can only be issued if a person is actually found sleeping in the
           vehicle; and
     o     the $550 fine is given to the driver of the vehicle who, in many cases, leaves the
           country without paying.
     Patrols will continue. If the number of illegal campers does not significantly decrease as a
     result of the actions contained herein additional resources may be sought in the future to
     enable increased patrols.
    Local law officers have recently been placing a “Camping in Noosa Shire” Fact Sheet on
     the windscreen of all vehicles which appear to have been used for camping. The sheet
     includes a list of campervan facilities in Noosa and advises the fine if found camping is
     $550.
    Signs have been erected in 12 locations advising it is illegal to camp.
    Local Laws officers are investigating how to have phone apps that advise camping is free
     in Noosa corrected or removed. In the interim they have ‘blogged’ on the Wicked Camper
     phone app advising that free camping is not permitted anywhere in Noosa Shire.
    Staff are seeking advice from the Department of Local Government in respect to making
     amendments to the local law to make the owner of the vehicle responsible for the offence
     of camping. Depending upon advice received a future report may be presented to Council
     in this regard.
    Given that other Councils are having the same issue, staff may liaise with the Local
     Government Authority of Queensland to seek changes to state legislation namely the
     Transport Operations Road Use Management Act to include the offence of camping with a
     motor vehicle.

3. The Noosa Plan

Within the Noosa Plan a:
    “Caravan Park” is a Residential Use classed as Visitor Accommodation (Type 2) and is
     defined as:
     The use of premises for the parking of caravans for the purpose of providing
     accommodation. The use includes communal facilities for the exclusive use of occupants of
     the caravan park. The use includes the use of camping areas and cabins for short-term
     accommodation where they are ancillary to the provision of caravan sites. The use also
     includes a caretaker’s residence an office, any amenity buildings and any recreation and
     entertainment facilities that cater exclusively for the occupants of the caravan park.
    “Camp ground” is a Community Use classed as Open Space (Type 2) and is defined as:
     The use of premises for pitching a tent for the purpose of providing overnight
     accommodation to the travelling public. It may include toilet and shower facilities for the
     convenience of visitors. It may include the ancillary use of parking a caravan overnight.
To provide overnight camping/caravanning facilities on any land, public or private, a planning
application is required.



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