January 2012

 
Caravans parked in the dunes at Norval Park

Caravans parked in the dunes at Norval Park during the festive season

Sensitive dunes damaged , claim

Festive revellers snub noses
at council's no-camping rules

'As far as I know, this land was bequeathed to the people'

Norval Park no-camping sign Have your say

HUNDREDS of campers and caravanners snubbed their noses at a Queensland council's tough stance on budget camping and free rest areas during the festive season.

Despite Bundaberg Regional Council's previous warning that illegally camped travellers could cop hefty fines, revellers in caravans, tents and motorhomes enjoyed million-dollar views across the blue waters of the Pacific at Norval Park north of the city.

The council banned caravans, motorhomes and campervans from the picturesque beachfront area about two years ago, permitting only fee-paying permit-holding holidaymakers to pitch tents or camper trailers on specially marked out sites well back from the foreshore.

But many Christmas and New Year holidaymakers blatantly ignored the ban and set up camps at every available spot among the sensitive dunes, where endangered marine turtles nest at this time of year.

One couldn't-care-less camper told Caravanning News: "Generations of families have been spending their holidays here so why should some killjoy bureaucrats in their ivory tower spoil it for them?

"As far as I know, this land was bequeathed to the people so they can enjoy what Norval Park has to offer ... which is nature in its purity."

He declined to comment on reports that revellers had damaged dunes and turtle nests by driving over them in their 4WDs, quad bikes and trail bikes.

"They're just having fun ... there are no signs saying they can't," he said.

During the last couple of years the council has spent tens of thousands of dollars trying to prevent campers using the dunes.

It laid huge rocks across the access road but this attempt was short lived ... with defiant 4WD owners dragging them out of the way with their vehicles within days. Replacement posts and wire fencing met the same fate.

'No-camping' signs were used as barbecue plates!

Frustrated grey nomads claim a shortage of cheap camping and free rest areas is threatening to turn the Rum City into a forgotten backwater of the booming Australian caravanning circuit.

Australian Caravan Club chairman Tom Smith warned that Bundaberg businesses would be the big losers unless the council's stance on budget camping was reviewed.

The council came under heavy fire 18 months ago after scrapping seniors' discounts at its four caravan parks, resulting in a petition from cash-strapped grey nomads.

Despite its harsh stand on budget camping, the authority suggested grey nomads could provide an important source of skills and employment, making its point in a submission to a Queensland State Government inquiry into grey nomad tourism.

And recently it offered a small olive branch to travellers ... by approving a 20-hour overnight rest area at Yandaran, a small village off the Bundaberg to Rosedale Road and on the same road leading down to Norval Park.

The only other official rest areas in the 6451 sq km shire are at Apple Tree Creek and Gin Gin on the Bruce Highway, Sharon on the Bundaberg to Gin Gin road and on the Isis Highway between Bundaberg and Childers.

BACK TO CARAVANNING NEWS MAIN PAGE


SEND YOUR COMMENTS OR
STORY IDEAS TO
CARAVANNING NEWS

Sign Guestbook Guestbook by GuestWorld View Guestbook

 No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted without
the prior written permission of Dennis Amor.

Copyright 2005 Dennis Amor
All Rights Reserved