May 2007

Council calls for report

Villagers win battle to ban free overnight camping

ANGRY locals in a small New South Wales village have won their battle to have free overnight camping banned.

A delegation of Bendemeer villagers took their fight to a recent meeting of Tamworth Regional Council, protesting about caravanners and other travellers overnighting for free.

Now the council has slapped a ban on free camping at the village's Memorial Park and has called for a report on a broader ban. Picturesque Bendemeer has a population of about 250 and stands on the Macdonald River between Tamworth and Armidale.

It is a popular spot with travellers using the New England Highway.

Residents told the council of their concerns about the local economy suffering from free overnight caravanning in the village. They argued that it was taking business away from the local 60-site Riverside Rest Caravan Park.

Owner Amy Geddes agreed and reportedly said she was being "pushed to the wall" by the freeloaders. "I just find that it's too hard to try and run a business with free camping - I just can't compete," she said.

Residents also objected to their rates being used to subsidise caravanners staying for free, using the town's water and then moving on.

They will now conduct a survey to determine what tourists want. Bendemeer Community Development Committee president Roger Noakes said: "We'll approach them most mornings and give them survey forms with a return stamped addressed envelope".

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