Yes John it does say a few things but there quite a few conditions which I will paste a couple of below
A Council may make local laws for or with respect to any act, matter or thing in respect of which the Council has a function or power under this or any other Act.
(2) A local law must not be inconsistent with any Act or regulation.
(3) A local law is inoperative to the extent that it is inconsistent with any Act or regulation.
(4) If a planning scheme is in force in the municipal district of a Council, the Council must not make a local law which duplicates or is inconsistent with the planning scheme.
the opening line tells the story really, the council may only make a local law if they have a function or a power already granted under the LG act.
clause 4 would be applicable to most urban areas as there are very likely to be planning schemes such as an LEP for the area.
One of the easiest powers for council to use to control illegal camping is the parking controls they can impose. A sign that states No Parking between 11pm and 6am allows them to fine illegally parked vehicles. No need to define camping or anything like it.
Frank
wauri said
03:28 PM Mar 10, 2016
To be a little fair to Bowen though, it is a town based heavily on backpacker labour for the tomato and capsicum picking and various other fruits and vegetables.
I would imagine that the random camping and subsequent mess in the various hidden spots would be a constant and also the subject of numerous complaints to the local council.
Being able to free camp these days is a privilege and it gets abused especially when it is attempted in fully urban areas.
brickies said
03:30 PM Mar 10, 2016
Guthalungra is about 50 klm north of Bowen is a free camp .
Delta18 said
03:41 PM Mar 10, 2016
Nothing to do with the fact a councillor (Mayor) owns the caravan park?
PeterD said
08:49 PM Mar 10, 2016
justcruisin01 wrote:Why would you support their town???????????????????,
Many of us don't. That was the first town that those who like to free camp spread the word around to bypass. We still have that on the list. My first experience of the town was 1999 when a group of 4 of us was touring Qld. We were not booking ahead but arriving early on spec. We walked into the Bowen tourist info centre. I somehow made a comment about free camping and then received a few minute tirade from the volunteer about free camping and the spongers who do it. We then went back over to the rest area for morning tea, I mentioned the incident to some of the others over there. The response I got from them was that most of those involved in tourism there were like that, that's why so many of them just have a a quick cuppa leak on them and keep going. None of them spend anything in town, they even carefully manage their fuel so they don't get caught having to top up there.
I urge all of you who are in favour of or or do some freedom camping to pass through the area quickly and spend nothing in the area.
aussietraveller said
09:59 PM Mar 10, 2016
We spent 4 nights in Bowen at the caravan park on the highway just south of Bowen and have got to say we found the town and people very friendly and the caravan park very reasonably priced.
The wall murals on buildings in town are great and it's worth talking to the locals about their experience when the blockbuster movie Australia was made in their town.
I would not hesitate to stop in Bowen if in the area again
brickies said
10:35 PM Mar 10, 2016
Some people arrive in a town with a $5 note and a clean pair of under pants and don't change either , Bowen is a great town often stay there if you want to stay by the sea it will always cost , If you don't want to pay spend the day there and move onto to a free camp out of town like people do in Townsville .
A Council may make local laws for or with respect to any act, matter or thing in respect of which the Council has a function or power under this or any other Act.
(2) A local law must not be inconsistent with any Act or regulation.
(3) A local law is inoperative to the extent that it is inconsistent with any Act or regulation.
(4) If a planning scheme is in force in the municipal district of a Council, the Council must not make a local law which duplicates or is inconsistent with the planning scheme.
the opening line tells the story really, the council may only make a local law if they have a function or a power already granted under the LG act.
clause 4 would be applicable to most urban areas as there are very likely to be planning schemes such as an LEP for the area.
One of the easiest powers for council to use to control illegal camping is the parking controls they can impose. A sign that states No Parking between 11pm and 6am allows them to fine illegally parked vehicles. No need to define camping or anything like it.
Frank
I would imagine that the random camping and subsequent mess in the various hidden spots would be a constant and also the subject of numerous complaints to the local council.
Being able to free camp these days is a privilege and it gets abused especially when it is attempted in fully urban areas.
Nothing to do with the fact a councillor (Mayor) owns the caravan park?
Many of us don't. That was the first town that those who like to free camp spread the word around to bypass. We still have that on the list. My first experience of the town was 1999 when a group of 4 of us was touring Qld. We were not booking ahead but arriving early on spec. We walked into the Bowen tourist info centre. I somehow made a comment about free camping and then received a few minute tirade from the volunteer about free camping and the spongers who do it. We then went back over to the rest area for morning tea, I mentioned the incident to some of the others over there. The response I got from them was that most of those involved in tourism there were like that, that's why so many of them just have a a quick cuppa leak on them and keep going. None of them spend anything in town, they even carefully manage their fuel so they don't get caught having to top up there.
I urge all of you who are in favour of or or do some freedom camping to pass through the area quickly and spend nothing in the area.
The wall murals on buildings in town are great and it's worth talking to the locals about their experience when the blockbuster movie Australia was made in their town.
I would not hesitate to stop in Bowen if in the area again