Latest news with #illegalcamping
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Yahoo
Council introduces tough new rules to force out illegal campers from today
An Aussie council inundated with reports of illegal beachfront camping has introduced new rules to force out travellers accused of taking up parking spots and leaving behind a mess. Those caught breaking the rules from today, Thursday July 24, will be issued $333 fines for illegally parking overnight at two new locations in Queensland's Noosa Heads area. It's the latest measure by Noosa Council as it attempts to stamp out the ongoing issue plaguing the region. The new nighttime parking restrictions will be in place at two beachfront car parks — Beach Access 50 (Peregian Esplanade) and Victory Park (Lorikeet Drive) — which will see the area become a no-parking zone between 10pm and 4am daily. It comes as complaints to the council from Peregian Beach locals have surged, arriving almost daily over the past month. "We've received a significant number of reports about overnight camping, cooking, loss of amenity and mess left behind — the issues are occurring daily,' Noosa Council's Acting Local Laws Manager, Clint Irwin, said. "These new trial restrictions help address the issue and strengthen our enforcement powers." The parking restrictions are an expansion of a trial already underway at Noosa Spit, where restrictions have received positive community feedback, according to council. 🚐 Illegal car park act highlights big 'problem' in tourist town 🏕️ Tourists at popular beach ignore council 'blitz' on illegal act 🌊 Locals react after council's big parking change to stop illegal camping Council focus on travellers breaking the law Last week, Noosa Council shared footage of its latest blitz against travellers caught squatting on public land — with 20 fines handed out in one weekend, bringing the total to 50 fines in a fortnight after 30 infringement notices were issued a week earlier. Across the last couple of years, the council has embarked on many compliance blitzes, targeting illegal campers who park where they shouldn't, as well as those responsible for leaving council reserves and public areas in a messy state. "We're doubling down with joint enforcement blitzes and regular patrols to keep places like Peregian Beach and Noosa Heads clean, safe and enjoyable for all," Mayor Frank Wilkie said. However, Irwin reiterated that the new rules are about stopping travellers looking for a free night's accommodation, not those experiencing genuine homelessness. "These rules are about stopping illegal campers,' he said. "People experiencing homelessness are not the target of this trial — they'll be referred to support services." New signage to 'dispel any doubt' about parking rules New signage has been put in place to alert drivers of the change in parking rules, along with new no-camping signage at a car park at Lanyana Way, Noosa Junction. 'There are no new parking restrictions as this car park is busy with people working and dining in the area at night, but the no-camping signage will help dispel any doubt among campervan travellers that setting up camp there will result in a fine," Mayor Wilkie said. Council urged local residents to report any instances of illegal camping via the council website, Snap Send Solve or by calling (07) 5329 6500. Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@ You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube.
Yahoo
19-07-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Landscape charity launches Lakes litter survey
A landscape charity has launched an online survey in an effort to get a clearer idea about the scale of littering and illegal camping in a national park. Friends of the Lake District said it wanted to find out whether people living in the area think the problem is becoming more widespread. The findings of the questionnaire will be used by the organisation to campaign for measures such as more frequent visits to hotspots by rangers, tougher action against anyone found to be responsible for leaving a mess and more effective prevention steps. Valleys, roadsides and lake shores are among the areas commonly seeing problems, it says. The group said people leaving rubbish behind, as well as those camping without the landowner's permission, "seems to have grown as a problem" in recent years. It added it comes "in the wake of a slew of social media videos of influencers sharing their experiences" in the area without sharing how to visit responsibly and follow the Countryside Code" – a set of guidelines aimed at protecting the outdoors. The role of influencers has been in the spotlight and in May the Lake District National Park Authority announced it would pay some to help discourage people from fly camping and littering. Wildfire risk Kay Andrews, the organisation's engagement lead said: "The lasting effects of leaving rubbish in the landscape aren't just visual. "Litter can kill wildlife and livestock, damage soils, leach into water systems and cause health hazards, while barbecues and fires can easily cause wildfires in summer. "When people act in such a thoughtless manner, it ruins the enjoyment of the beautiful countryside of the Lake District for other visitors and causes affected communities stress and upset". Posts about the Lake District are incredibly popular on platforms such as Instagram, with about 6.4m tags for the location used, compared to 2.4m for the Peak District and 1.9m for Northumberland. Follow BBC Cumbria on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram. More on this topic Campers dump tent, rubbish and uncooked sausages Destructive 'fly campers' threatened with fines Lake District charity hits out at litter pests
BBC News
19-07-2025
- General
- BBC News
Lake District landscape charity launches litter survey
A landscape charity has launched an online survey in an effort to get a clearer idea about the scale of littering and illegal camping in a national of the Lake District said it wanted to find out whether people living in the area think the problem is becoming more findings of the questionnaire will be used by the organisation to campaign for measures such as more frequent visits to hotspots by rangers, tougher action against anyone found to be responsible for leaving a mess and more effective prevention roadsides and lake shores are among the areas commonly seeing problems, it says. The group said people leaving rubbish behind, as well as those camping without the landowner's permission, "seems to have grown as a problem" in recent added it comes "in the wake of a slew of social media videos of influencers sharing their experiences" in the area without sharing how to visit responsibly and follow the Countryside Code" – a set of guidelines aimed at protecting the role of influencers has been in the spotlight and in May the Lake District National Park Authority announced it would pay some to help discourage people from fly camping and littering. Wildfire risk Kay Andrews, the organisation's engagement lead said: "The lasting effects of leaving rubbish in the landscape aren't just visual."Litter can kill wildlife and livestock, damage soils, leach into water systems and cause health hazards, while barbecues and fires can easily cause wildfires in summer."When people act in such a thoughtless manner, it ruins the enjoyment of the beautiful countryside of the Lake District for other visitors and causes affected communities stress and upset".Posts about the Lake District are incredibly popular on platforms such as Instagram, with about 6.4m tags for the location used, compared to 2.4m for the Peak District and 1.9m for Northumberland. Follow BBC Cumbria on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
Yahoo
17-07-2025
- Yahoo
Video shows council's dramatic plan to tackle illegal camping trend: 'Get out'
A major east coast council has continued its crackdown on illegal camping in the area, handing down another 20 fines to travellers caught unlawfully squatting on public land over the weekend. Noosa Council shared footage on Thursday showing an officer approach a camper in the early hours of the morning, waking the tourist who was asleep in a tent atop a 4WD. "Morning, Noosa Council, I need you to hop up, please," the council officer can be heard saying in the video. "I need you to jump out of bed, I need to have a chat," she said, prompting a confused grunt from a man inside. The latest crackdown saw a further 20 people issued fines, bringing the total to 50 in the last fortnight after 30 infringement notices were issued the prior week. Across the last couple of years, the council has embarked on many compliance blitzes, targeting illegal campers who park where they shouldn't, as well as those responsible for leaving council reserves and public areas in a messy state. With the help of Queensland Police, the latest blitz focused on eastern beaches hotspots, including Victory Park at Peregian Beach, where residents continue to report a large number of campers illegally staying overnight. Noosa council vows to defeat illegal camping Director of Regulation and Development at Noosa Council, Richard MacGillivray, said it was working on "several fronts" to curb the frustrating trend. "Information from locals about where the campers are congregating, dumping rubbish and using parks and gardens as toilets continues to guide our enforcement efforts, both jointly with police and our own routine patrols," he said. "We are working with camping website providers and social media platforms to ensure these forums are only circulating accurate information about where travellers can lawfully park overnight in Noosa." Council said it will also be expanding the 10pm to 4am no-parking signage trial at Noosa Spit "into other areas" to curb illegal camping, including Victory Park and Beach Access 50 at Peregian. To ensure the $333 fines are paid, council will explore several enforcement avenues. "International visitors aren't exempt from paying the fines," MacGillivray warned. "If they don't pay, there are means of pursuing that debt through the State Penalties Enforcement Registry (SPER) and can be flagged with immigration as they attempt to leave or re-enter the country." Special considerations given to those 'genuinely homeless' MacGillivray said people battling homelessness wouldn't be targeted. "There are occasions where our staff come across local people who are genuinely homeless and living in their cars because they have no other option," MacGillivray said. "Of course, we don't fine people in this situation, we link them with local support agencies that can offer them safe accommodation and other assistance." The council worker said it's the illegal campers seeking a cheap holiday who the authorities are targeting. "Those who think it's OK to leave a mess, disrespect our environment and monopolise our parking areas for long periods," he warned. Illegal car park act highlights big 'problem' in tourist town Tourists at popular beach ignore council 'blitz' on illegal act Locals react after council's big parking change to stop illegal camping Noosa Council offers a range of campgrounds for travellers. The council says they are purpose-built for campervans, offering powered sites, cooking facilities and toilet and bathroom facilities. "It's at these facilities that travellers should be parking up and camping overnight, not our streets," MacGillivray said. Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@ You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube.
Yahoo
11-07-2025
- Yahoo
Disturbing roadside find near Aussie campground prompts plea to 'cheeky' tourists
The frustrated owner of a family-run campground in the heart of one of Australia's most iconic tourist regions has issued a plea to 'cheeky' travellers after making a disturbing roadside find. Jil, who runs Tirranna Springs Roadhouse in northwest Queensland with her husband, was heading down her driveway earlier this week with her children and dogs in tow when she spotted the remnants of a campfire still burning on the side of the track. Speaking to Yahoo News Australia, the mum said it didn't take her long to realise that visitors had driven past her business after the sun set and illegally camped overnight on her private property. While it's not the first time a tourist has snuck in hoping to score a free night's accommodation on her land, Jil said it was the pile of hot embers left behind the next morning that really got her fired up. 'That's what made me angry,' she said, noting it was 'lucky' no one had accidentally stepped on it. 'The whole area relies on tourism quite heavily, and we're only open for three or four months of the year. The rest of the year, it's either too hot or too wet. 'If you want to free camp, fine, out in the bush, but not in my driveway — that's silly. Might as well call in and spend the $15 and support a family,' Jil said, referring to the price of the Roadhouse's unpowered sites. The campground, located near the infamous Gregory River Crossing, also features powered sites, ensuite units, toilet blocks, showers, a 24-hour fuel station, a restaurant, and a small shop. Jil and her husband took over the Tirranna Springs Roadhouse in 2018, but have spent the last two years rebuilding after three back-to-back floods destroyed everything. 'We got completely wiped out — our home, our farm animals, our pets and all of our stuff,' Jil told Yahoo. The last thing the business needs now is the threat of a bushfire, she said. 'It's so dry and windy. It only takes a gust of wind to take those embers somewhere else, and bang, we're on fire.' In an attempt to deter others, Jil pleaded with travellers online this week to please be responsible. While most tourists are "greatly appreciated", she often busts groups trying to camp in bushland on her property. 'A lot of times it is people camping just outside of our view. They don't pull into the driveway, they just drive around us and camp. It does happen quite a bit,' she said. 'They've never left a fire behind before but they do use our toilets and showers in the hotel accommodation, and then go back out to their free camp. That's proper cheeky.' 🚐 Brazen $300k act prompts caravan warning amid growing Aussie trend 🏕️ Major crackdown coming to travel hotspot amid surge in illegal camping 🔥 Aussie traveller calls out deadly recurring issue after 11,000km trip And Tirranna is not the only local business impacted by the trend. Hudson, manager of the nearby Burke and Wills Roadhouse, told Yahoo tourists often camp in a vacant lot across the road and wander over to use their facilities. 'They tend to go park over there among the bushes. To be fair most of them come over and buy food and everything so they can use the showers and the toilets, but a lot of them tend to not do that.' Councils across the country continue to crack down on illegal camping at major tourist areas, with levels of overcrowding, damage to the environment, and littering soaring at frequently visited spots. Yahoo has contacted the Burke Shire Council for comment. Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@ You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube.
