THE future of a popular overnight rest area north of Brisbane remains
in doubt ... again!
Moreton Bay Regional Council is planning to review its decision to reopen
the Wyllie Park facility off Old Gympie Road at Petrie following
complaints from local residents.
Self-contained caravans and motorhomes have been allowed to spend up to 48
hours at the site on the banks of the North Pine River for about a year,
but campervans, camper trailers and tents have been prohibited.
The trial follows a decision by the former Pine Rivers Shire Council to
ban overnight stays almost a decade ago after claims the park had been
turned into a 'shanty town'.
Furious locals complained of lines of washing strung between trees and
many caravanners and motorhomers blatantly overstaying the 48-hour limit.
The rest area was used by many travellers, particularly southerners making
their way north for the winter sunshine and people with hospital
appointments in Brisbane.
It was often full to overflowing.
The main target of the local residents' anger was people in tents and
others sleeping in cars.
Many homeless peopel actually pitched tents under signs clearly warning
they were prohibited.
But after pleas from many grey nomads over the years, the new regional
council decided to reopen Wyllie Park to bona fide travellers to assess
its ongoing suitability for overnight stays.
One local resident, who declined to be named, told Caravanning News
that some people were again ignoring the rules by overstaying their
welcome, pitching tents and leaving litter behind.
"We don't want to appear like stick-in-the-muds but we don't want a repeat
of what happened last time," she said.
The park has been closed since mid-June for scheduled tree replacements,
but is expected to be reopened early this month.
Moreton Bay Regional Council said the work would coincide with its review
on whether Wyllie Park should remain available for overnight stays.