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March 2015

 

 
Flynns Beach: illegal camping hotspot

Flynns Beach: illegal camping hotspot

A third of respondents prepared to risk fine

Hundreds quizzed in
free-camping survey

Have your say

PORT Macquarie-Hastings Council in NSW quizzed hundreds of travellers after turning the spotlight on illegal campers.

It has now produced a 16-page report outlining the preliminary results of a survey on free-camping in the popular holiday area.

The council launched a management trial last September to help develop a free-camping management strategy.

As part of the trial, 300 travellers illegally camped at 12 coastal "hotspots" between Log Wharf Reserve and Dunbogan were asked a series of questions.

Campers found in other locations were also included.

A report on the survey revealed that the top four camping areas were at Settlement Point and Shelly, Town and Flynns beaches.

Of the 300 respondents, 41 percent were camping in non self-contained privately-owned vehicles, it said.

Twenty percent of campervans and motorhomes were self-contained.

The survey found that 76 percent of the free-campers were international travellers, while 17 percent were from NSW and only seven percent from interstate.

Seventy-three percent of free-campers were first-time visitors to the Port Macquarie region, while six percent were living locally in their vehicles.

More than half were using the camping areas for a stopover during their travels while six percent were visiting because "they perceived it to be free-camping friendly".

One in 10 were there because of a special event or some other reason including business, whale watching, surfing and surfing lessons or to use the skate park.

Over half indicated they would stay just one night but five percent said they would camp there for four to seven nights.

Five percent indicated they would stay eight or more nights.

Nearly half discovered the location from an app such as Wikicamps, while 19 percent heard about it by word of mouth.

Only 15 percent found it by chance.

Nearly 40 percent admitted they would not be spending on caravan parks or other accommodation while on their holiday.

In fact, the survey revealed the region would only capture an accommodation spend from just four percent of the respondents.

"Typically, campers indicated they would only stay in paid accommodation because of a desire of access services and facilities, particularly hot showers," the report said.

Over a third of campers said they would be willing to spend $6 to $10 a night each on accommodation. Overall, 17 percent admitted they were not willing to spend at all.

"While campers generally do not spend much at all on accommodation, the survey has indicated that they do spend on items in the supermarkets, petrol, other shopping and dining out," the report pointed out.

"There is some notable expenditure on local tours and attractions."

The majority of campers (56 percent) agreed they would rather find another site when confronted by 'No Camping' signs, but a third admitted they would be prepared to risk a fine and be more vigilant by keeping a low profile and leaving early.

A hundred locals were also asked for their thoughts on free-camping, with most remaining "positive" towards the travellers.

"Residents and local users of the public space noted that as long as they clean up after themselves and don't cause a disturbance, they were happy to share the space with them," the report said.

"There were also suggestions of a possible short-term limit on parking or staying in one designated free-camping spot.

"Those that commented against free-campers noted observations of suspicious people, rubbish left behind, defecating in public spaces and noise created by campers."

The draft strategy will be presented to this month's council meeting with a view to progressing to public exhibition in April.

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