I saw that on the news Judy. They all got tickets this morning. Had to laugh when questioned by the press. They said they are not doing any harm where they park, can't see anything wrong with it and please could the council put in a shower for them.
GaryKelly said
10:29 PM Feb 15, 2013
That shot of the overflowing bins with the campervan parked across the street could be staged. Backpackers don't have a monopoly on making a mess.
Happywanderer said
11:52 PM Feb 15, 2013
Totally agree with you Gary. I saw the story on TV, there was quite a line of packpacker vans. I never saw any reference to rubbish anywhere in the story. Just that they were getting a good view of the bay and not having to pay for it. In a beautiful spot under trees, the signs said parking available between 3pm and 7am. I might have those times a bit wrong but it was late afternoon till early the next morning.
Gerty Dancer said
04:17 AM Feb 16, 2013
Except that we dont like big cities, if we were self contained, we might camp there ourselves, that sounds like a good spot!
wendyv said
04:27 AM Feb 16, 2013
Heard an interview on ABC radio with a couple of German girls who were camping by the Yarra in an area much used by similar. They had received one warning from a council person but didn't seem fazed by it - said they'd already been there a week. Mention was made of some rubbish in the area - wine casks etc.
Sheba said
05:34 AM Feb 16, 2013
Some-one mentioned the fact that they wouldn't be paying the fines, and as they weren't Australian Citizens, wouldn't be chased for it anyway when they were back home. Don't remember if it was a backpacker or a local.
Cheers,
Sheba.
barina said
11:15 AM Feb 16, 2013
Resident's in the suburban streets have the campers as well, using their gardens and nature strips as toilets, front taps as wash facilities also loud music, drinking in the wee hours of the mornings. Sadly they are not just in parking areas admiring the views.
-- Edited by barina on Saturday 16th of February 2013 11:42:22 AM
Duh said
08:59 PM Feb 16, 2013
They try it on in Perth parks and beaches, but get moved on by patrols, if on the beach front at least they have the chance for a free shower and toilets etc (and perhaps a bit of hand washing) but have to find other places to sleep overnight.
I was reading a backpackers campervan and car hire brochure yesterday at Perth Rail Terminal (they have a big display of free info for tourists there) and reading the prices they pay for the hire vehicles per day, can understand why they look for free camping spots if they can. I'm not defending them, just pointing out that an Aussie holiday with a hire van or similar is not all that cheap for them.
neilnruth said
09:05 PM Feb 16, 2013
And they usually get provided with a Camps Australia book to know where the free spots are.
Duh said
09:18 PM Feb 16, 2013
Some but not all as I found out from speaking to a number with hire vehicles during my recent trip, some had not even heard of it and I had to show them mine.
With the cost of caravan parks these days you can understand why they look for the free camping if possible when it is added to their hire costs.
Happywanderer said
11:53 PM Feb 16, 2013
I met a great bunch of French backpackers at Girgarre in Vic. I think they might have been doing fruit picking. One girl lent me her key to the showers so I didn't have to go to Post Office and pay $30 deposit. It is a great spot for them as has showers, toilets, drinking water and dump point. They were very well behaved, in the heat of the afternoon they lay around the park under the trees trying to keep cool. No noise at all.
Duh said
02:20 AM Feb 17, 2013
The ones I met were mostly Swiss and a few Germans, also two Italians.
Regards the brochure I was reading (refer earlier post of mine), these were the hire people the brochure was about, see;
I was wondering why some backpackers use station wagons, apparently they are on the hire menu....
jimbo said
02:36 AM Feb 17, 2013
I can just imagine the Lord mayor of Melbourne Mr Doyle He's be having a fit......I say Good luck to them Councils don't mind the money they spend Anyway it's not hurting anybody I'd do it right away If I thought I could get away with it
glassies said
02:51 AM Feb 18, 2013
i agree jimbo, i reckon you should be allowed to camp near a beach or where ever you like as long as you keep the area tidy and no rubbish left behind, australia is no longer a free country and becoming worse each year
tonyd said
09:21 AM Feb 18, 2013
glassies wrote:
Australia is no longer a free country and becoming worse each year
Indeed, Glassies. But only because we are letting it happen. We need to get back to the principle expressed by Peter Lalor in Ballarat, 1854:
"We swear by the Southern Cross to stand truly by each other and fight to defend our rights and liberties."
Backpackers are camping in City parks and streets around Melbourne. All over the news this morning several suburbs.
Just that they were getting a good view of the bay and not having to pay for it. In a beautiful spot under trees, the signs said parking available between 3pm and 7am. I might have those times a bit wrong but it was late afternoon till early the next morning.
Some-one mentioned the fact that they wouldn't be paying the fines, and as they weren't Australian Citizens, wouldn't be chased for it anyway when they were back home. Don't remember if it was a backpacker or a local.
Cheers,
Sheba.
Resident's in the suburban streets have the campers as well, using their gardens and nature strips as toilets, front taps as wash facilities also loud music, drinking in the wee hours of the mornings. Sadly they are not just in parking areas admiring the views.
-- Edited by barina on Saturday 16th of February 2013 11:42:22 AM
They try it on in Perth parks and beaches, but get moved on by patrols, if on the beach front at least they have the chance for a free shower and toilets etc (and perhaps a bit of hand washing) but have to find other places to sleep overnight.
I was reading a backpackers campervan and car hire brochure yesterday at Perth Rail Terminal (they have a big display of free info for tourists there) and reading the prices they pay for the hire vehicles per day, can understand why they look for free camping spots if they can. I'm not defending them, just pointing out that an Aussie holiday with a hire van or similar is not all that cheap for them.
Some but not all as I found out from speaking to a number with hire vehicles during my recent trip, some had not even heard of it and I had to show them mine.
With the cost of caravan parks these days you can understand why they look for the free camping if possible when it is added to their hire costs.
They were very well behaved, in the heat of the afternoon they lay around the park under the trees trying to keep cool. No noise at all.
The ones I met were mostly Swiss and a few Germans, also two Italians.
Regards the brochure I was reading (refer earlier post of mine), these were the hire people the brochure was about, see;
http://travellers-autobarn.com.au/
I was wondering why some backpackers use station wagons, apparently they are on the hire menu....
I can just imagine the Lord mayor of Melbourne Mr Doyle He's be having a fit......I say Good luck to them Councils don't mind the money they spend Anyway it's not hurting anybody I'd do it right away If I thought I could get away with it
no rubbish left behind, australia is no longer a free country and becoming worse each year
Indeed, Glassies. But only because we are letting it happen. We need to get back to the principle expressed by Peter Lalor in Ballarat, 1854:
"We swear by the Southern Cross to stand truly by each other and fight to defend our rights and liberties."
Cheers, Tony