 COME ON, WAKE
UP TO THE RULES!
`IT'S a shame some caravanners and other recreational vehicle users are still flouting rest area rules, particularly after the Queensland Government reversed its policy of banning
overnight stays.
Stern signs appeared
at many Department of Main Roads-provided rest areas warning they were for the benefit of 'travellers' ... and caravanners who stayed
and slept overnight risked fines of up to $1500.
This followed complaints that people were setting up long-term campsites.
There were howls of
protest and the rule was rescinded, the State Government finally bowing to pressure and allowing caravanners and other travellers to stay for up to 20 hours. It was a fair compromise.
But it's a pity some people still blatantly refuse to play the game and obey the rules.
Rest areas are just that ... for resting. They are NOT permanent campsites.
People who overstay
their 20-hour welcome should be slapped with hefty on-the-spot fines. I am sure genuine
travellers would have no problem with this.
MINISTER
REPLIES
I WAS part of the lobby group which protested about the closure of some rest areas in
Queensland. Here is the reply I received from the then Transport and Main Roads Minister,
Steve Bredhauer:
Thank you for your email outlining your concerns about changes to the
Department of Main Roads' policy regarding overnight stays at rest areas. My response to
you has been delayed as I have been waiting further advice relating to the policy.
In March 2003, I announced that Main Roads would limit overnight stays at rest areas
within 50km of towns or commercial accommodation facilities and impose a maximum stay of
20 hours at most other Main Roads' rest areas.
The aim of these arrangements was to ensure that rest areas are available for their
intended use - as facilities that help motorists manage driver fatigue by letting them
take short breaks. Rest areas have never been intended for use as free camping facilities.
Following a six monthly review of this policy change, community response has indicated
that many motorists support moves to prevent rest areas becoming de facto camp sites.
However, they also indicated that the new limits at some rest areas prevent them from
being used for effective driver fatigue management. I have listened to these concerns and
have decided to further refine management controls over stays at Main Roads' rest areas
by:
- limiting stays to 20 hours at most Main Roads' rest areas
- maintaining bans on overnight stays at a number of rest areas (that have been in place
since the mid 1990s)
Signs will now be revised at rest areas influenced by these new measures. This revision
may take two to three months. During this period, motorists can use the current edition of
the Main Roads’ publication Guide to Queensland Roads when planning their
journey.
The current guide outlines those Main Roads' rest areas and scenic sites where camping
is permitted for up to 20 hours. These are indicated as "camping permitted"
sites. This document also shows those sites where camping will continue to be prohibited.
An electronic version of this guide is available by means of the Department of Main
Roads’ web page at: http://www.mainroads.qld.gov.au/
MRWEB/Prod/Content.nsf
/DOCINDEX/Guide+to+
Queensland+Roads?OpenDocument
Yours sincerely
Steve Bredhauer
Minister for Transport
and Minister for Main Roads
Member for Cook
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SOME rest areas with
useful information
Every
effort is made to ensure this information is correct but circumstances can
change. If planning a trip you should check with local authorities that these
rest areas are still available
|
| QUEENSLAND AUGATHELLA (Matilda Hwy): Pleasant riverside
area adjoining local fishing clubhouse near town centre. Level and shady. Water tap. TV
reception ok. |
|
| BAN BAN SPRINGS (Hwy 17): Nice flat area
opposite roadhouse. Toilets. Table and benches. Yummy and reasonably priced food from
roadhouse. |
 |
| BLACKALL (Matilda Hwy): Large level grassy area
adjoining Barcoo River near town centre. Permit required from local information centre ($5
a night). Water, table and benches at nearby BBQ area. Public toilets about 300 metres
away. TV reception good. |
|
|
BOYNE RIVER (Bruce Hwy): About
23km south of Gladstone near Benaraby.
Toilets. Bins. Covered tables and benches. Suitable for large rigs. TV and mobile 'phone reception
reasonable. Max 20 hours.
|
|
| CALLIOPE RIVER (Bruce Hwy): About
26km south of Mount Larcom and 7km north of Calliope. Access bridge has 5-tonne limit.
Toilets. Bins. Suitable for large rigs. TV and mobile 'phone reception good. Max 48 hours.
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CHILDERS
(Bruce Hwy): About
7km north of Childers. Replaces Isis
River rest area, south of Childers ... closed because of its dangerous
access from the main highway. Large level area. Tables and benches, toilets,
electric BBQs, rubbish bins and tap water
(non drinkable). TV and mobile telephone reception reasonable. Maximum stay 20 hours. |
|
| CLAIRVIEW (Bruce Hwy): About 88km
south of Sarina. Delightful beachside area just off the highway. Toilets, bins,
covered tables and benches, wood and electric BBQs, children's play area, tap (water
undrinkable). Suitable for large rigs. TV and mobile 'phone reception good. Highway and
train noise. Max 24 hours. |
|
| COOYAR (Drovers Rest, Hwy 61): Parkland site in
village centre behind pub and near suspension bridge. Large grassy area. Platypus may be
seen in adjoining river. Water and toilets nearby. TV reception OK. |
|
| DUARINGA (Capricorn Hwy): Large attractive
grassy area near roadhouse. Toilet block with showers. |
|
| DULULU (Hwy 17): Large flat grassy area
provided by local progress association. Power and hot showers available for $5 a night.
Shady spots. Table and benches. New toilet block. TV reception excellent. |
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|
EIDSVOLD: Six kilometres west of Eidsvold on the Theodore road. Large
flat grassy area with covered tables and benches, toilets, bins, BBQs and
tap. No TV reception. Mobile 'phone reception ok (CDMA only). Suitable for
large rigs. Very peaceful. |
|
| EMERALD (Capricorn Hwy): Pleasant spot
adjoining Botanical Gardens at eastern entrance to town. Noise from road and train bridges
during day but not too bad through night. Water tap. Shopping centre with Coles and Target
a few minutes walk away. TV reception OK. |
|
| GIN GIN (Bruce Hwy): Pleasant
area one kilometre north of Gin Gin. Toilets. Taps. Wood barbecue. Covered tables and
benches. Suitable for large rigs. TV and mobile telephone reception good. Highway noise.
Maximum stay 20 hours. |
|
| GRANITE CREEK - Also known as
Bernie Christensen Rest Area - (Bruce Hwy): 36km south of Miriam Vale. Toilets,
bins, covered tables and benches. TV reception poor. Mobile telephone reception good.
Water. Wood barbecue. Suitable for large rigs. Maximum stay 48 hours. |
|
| GUNALDA (Bruce Hwy): Almost opposite Windsong
tourist stop. Driver Reviver site. Toilets. Tables and benches. Water. 20 hours. |
|
| GYMPIE (Bruce Hwy): Six Mile Creek, 1km south
of town. Large grassy site with some level areas. Water tap. Toilets. New picnic tables
and benches. Electric BBQ. Dump point. Noise from hwy. TV reception OK. Max stay 20 hours. |
|
| GYMPIE (Bruce Hwy): Chatsworth Park, 5km north
of town. Picturesque level grassy area adjoining lakes. Toilets. Tables and benches.
Children's play area. Highway noise. TV reception fair. |
|
|
HELIDON (Warrego
Hwy): Large flat area about 40km east of Toowoomba. Toilets, taps, covered
benches and tables. TV and mobile 'phone reception. Highway noise. |
|
| ISIS RIVER
(Bruce Hwy): Area now closed because of dangerous access. |
|
| JERICHO
(Capricorn Hwy): Excellent peaceful facilities on Showground. Large grassy
area with concrete slabs, power, water, hot showers and toilets. TV reception OK. |
|
| LANDSBOROUGH (Bruce Hwy): West of highway on
Glass House Mountains Road. Toilets. Tank water (non drinkable), tables and benches. TV
reception ok. |
|
| MITCHELL (Major Mitchell Caravan Park, Warrego
Hwy): Two nights free on spacious ensuite site with mains water and power. Short walk to
artesian baths. TV reception good. All non ensuite sites except one have no water supply. |
|
|
MULGILDIE :
ON the Burnett Highway (Highway
17) about 10km south of Monto. Adjoins local community hall in Palm Street.
Clean toilets, water tap, covered table and benches, children's play area
and nicely tended gardens. TV reception excellent. General store nearby.
Local pub offers roast lunches between 11am and 2pm for a bargain $4.50! |
|
| PETRIE (Old Gympie Road): TEMPORARILY CLOSED FROM JANUARY 21, 2008. Level, shady and
grassy area adjoining North Pine River and main railway line into Brisbane. Recently refurbished toilet block. Water tap. Electric BBQ. Dump point. Table and benches.
Children's play area. TV and mobile 'phone reception good. |
|
| TAMBO (Matilda Hwy): Nice flat area adjoining
lakes at southern entrance to town. Adjoining truck stop but very little noise through
night. BBQs, shelters with table and benches. Toilet block with cold shower and water
taps. TV reception good. 48 hours. |
|
| TIARO
(Bruce Hwy): Flat, shady area behind park. Water tap. Park has free BBQ, table and benches and toilet block with
hot shower. TV reception good. Bargain-price meals at nearby pub or takeaway. 48-hour
limit.
Congratulations to Tiaro Shire for this delightful facility. |
|
|
WALLUM RESERVE (Isis Hwy):
Large
flat bitumen and grassy areas with shade alongside Childers to Bundaberg
highway, about 28km SW of Bundaberg. Composting toilets. Rainwater tanks.
Covered tables and benches. Wood-fired BBQ. Mobile 'phone and television
reception good. Suitable for large rigs. 20-hour limit. |
|
| WARWICK (New England Hwy): Large
exposed flat area behind Warwick Roadhouse, 6km north of Warwick. Hot showers, toilets,
meals, fuel, water and even a swimming pool available at roadhouse. Truck noise. TV
reception good. An ok free stop. 24 hrs. |
|
| YULEBA (Warrego Hwy between Miles and Roma):
Large flat area off hwy. Park between trees. Some truck noise through night but an OK free
stop. No TV reception or facilities. |
|
|
WAVERLEY CREEK
(Bruce Hwy): About 11km south of St Lawrence between Sarina and Rockhampton.
Flat area with toilets, bins, BBQs, public telephone, tables and benches and
tap. Suitable for large rigs. 20 hours. |
|
| NEW SOUTH WALES |
|
| BANGALOW (Pacific Hwy near Byron
Bay): Large flattish bitumen area alongside main highway. Toilet (composting), water (non
drinkable), mobile 'phone and television reception ok. Very noisy. |
|
| BLACKBUTTS ROAD (Pacific Hwy near
Taree): Pleasant landscaped area with composting toilets, benches and tables. TV reception
good. Water (non drinkable). Highway noise. |
|
| CELTIC
COUNTRY (New England Hwy, 5km south of Glen Innis): Exposed flattish area
alongside highway. Toilets, tables and benches. Suitable for larger rigs. 24 hrs. |
|
| NEW ITALY (Pacific Hwy between
Ballina and Grafton): Adjoins New Italy Museum and Aboriginal Arts and Crafts Centre. Flat
dusty area offering shade. Floodlit. Tables and benches. TV reception good. Toilets.
Reasonably priced meals until 5pm at museum. Highway noise. |
|
| SID BURKE FOREST PARK (Pacific Hwy,
17km south of Coffs Harbour): Busy forested area with composting toilets, tables and
benches, short forest walk, information board and fitness equipment. TV reception good.
Water (non drinkable). Highway noise. TEMPORARILY CLOSED DUE TO ROADWORKS. |
|
| SLEEPY HOLLOW (Pacific Hwy, south of
Murwillumbah): On northbound side of Pacific Hwy. Nicely landscaped with dedicated areas
for trucks, caravans and other travellers. Composting toilets with taps and small sinks
outside (water not drinkable). Covered tables and benches. Children's playground.
Information boards. Mobile 'phone reception. Small area also on southside of
highway with similar facilities. Highway and truck noise. |
|
| Last updated: February 6, 2008 |