UNFRIENDLY BOWEN;

justcruisin01 · Guru

UNFRIENDLY BOWEN;

Happywanderer · The Master

Definitely a town to avoid JC.

Yuglamron · Guru

I used to work with a guy who has family there,they have farms more than one and he was telling me of all the S**T that goes down there with picking,backpackers hostels and other crops.

As soon as he was old enough he got out.

So much backstabbing and crap goes on there I would never consider staying anywhere near there.

Sounds like the word is spreading.

sandsmere · Guru

Yeah , Bowen is wellknown for its anti freecampers attitude . Rockhampton and Bunderberg have a bad history towards us too .

Specially Rocky . Plenty of good spots just north of there though .

jimricho · Guru

I think it would be a pity to judge a whole town based on one incident such as this, especially based on second hand information.

Unfortunately these towns that are popular with backpackers have experienced problems with them camping in inappropriate places as well as their bad behaviour. Sadly the "law" cannot make fair of one and foul of another and this means free campers such as the likes of us who do the right thing are also affected by this policy.

Obviously I'm not aware of the details in this case but more generally some free campers (not only backpackers) do "stretch the friendship" when it comes to some of the places they choose to set up camp, eg within a town area or at rest areas set aside for day-only use. These actions will only lead to tighter restrictions and enforcement and spoil it for those who do the right thing.

brickies · Guru

Just been there for 4 nights loved the place will go back has a lot to offer great caravan at Queens beach

jetj · Guru

My understanding is that it is illegal to be in charge of a vehicle and over the alcohol limit in NSW and I guess that goes for rest areas as well. I asked a neighbour (Policeman) and he said he didn't know. Not sure what the rules are but I don't take chances in case I have to move vehicle.

A registered vehicle is allowed to be parked on a public road either with a passenger or without. If the passenger is laying down in the back then how does break the law????

-- Edited by jetj on Wednesday 4th of July 2012 04:28:11 PM

_wombat_ · Master (of Mischief)

justcruisin01 wrote:
Chating to neighbours in the camp this arvo who are part of the motor home get together in Townsville & again in Mareeba soon.
Last year they camped one night at Bowen in a back road dead end & were awaken at 2.00 am by security , that were working for the council & told to move on or cop a $2,000.00 fine.
Why would you support their town???????????????????, Glad it was showday when we came through & all was closed.
JC.

when they wake you up, call the police and tell them you are too pixxed to drive and these council guys are wanting you to drive.

gillyb · Senior Member

Last year I spent a week in Bowen admittedly it was in a caravan Park but it was reasonably priced and right on the beach and I found the people to be very kind and friendly and I really enjoyed my stay there, it is a beautiful area. The part that I did find unfriendly was the regular caravanners who meet there every year at the same spot and seem to think they owned the place and were very cool and at times rude towards strangers. I cannot comment on free camping but I think as previously said that backpackers tend to spoil it for everyone else.

Beth54 · Guru

_wombat_ wrote:

when they wake you up, call the police and tell them you are too pixxed to drive and these council guys are wanting you to drive.

Good idea! biggrin

Nicholstones · Guru

justcruisin01 wrote:
Chating to neighbours in the camp this arvo who are part of the motor home get together in Townsville & again in Mareeba soon.
Last year they camped one night at Bowen in a back road dead end & were awaken at 2.00 am by security , that were working for the council & told to move on or cop a $2,000.00 fine.
Why would you support their town???????????????????, Glad it was showday when we came through & all was closed.
JC.

I'm obviously in a minority, but I reckon if they just pull up in a street and expect to be able to spend the night they deserve all they get. And as for trying to say that they are too drunk to drive on, well in that case they'd just have to cop the fine.

brickies · Guru

Well said Nicholstones ,Never never tell a police you are pissed in charge Vehicle

Beth54 · Guru

I'm sure it was meant as a joke, that's the way I took it anyway.

By the look of the comments here, as long as you stay in a CP it's a nice place to visit.

neilnruth · Guru

I think I would agree with Nicholstones on this one. I feel there are places we should stay and places that are not appropriate. I was a little disturbed last month when we were staying in a freecamp by what was said by someone who pulled in to use the toilet (they were also waiting for an accident on the road ahead to be cleared). She showed us in Camps book where they were thinking of staying further up the road and I commented that it was only a day visit place. 'Oh that doesn't matter. I'll stay where I like.' Now if we all take that attitude we will find it even harder to find a welcome as freecampers. Let's respect the rules in the towns we visit. And note, this wasn't a backpacker couple but an Aussie couple with a big caravan!

jetj · Guru

brickies wrote:
We need to realistic about free camping you can't expect to get free camping in built up areas , like Sydney , melbourne , Gold Coast and Bowen most of these city are flat out looking after there own people , but there are places that are looking for support from grey nomads and are providing free camp it not possible to have free camp where ever you want to stop how would you feel if people started camping outside your home taking up parking space of your visitors

I don't question that at all, but funny enough in Sydney we see on the news the backpackers taking over Sydney streets camping and the council, at that time, not able to stop them. This is in inner Sydney.

That is harmful and unfair, they are outside million dollar homes.

Sleeping quietly outside a park or factory, not so harmful in my book.

I'm not referring to or knocking Bowen in any way, never been there, just in general.

-- Edited by jetj on Wednesday 4th of July 2012 11:03:18 PM

brickies · Guru

We need to realistic about free camping you can't expect to get free camping in built up areas , like Sydney , melbourne , Gold Coast and Bowen most of these city are flat out looking after there own people , but there are places that are looking for support from grey nomads and are providing free camp it not possible to have free camp where ever you want to stop how would you feel if people started camping outside your home taking up parking space of your visitors

jimbo · Guru

The law is not clear on this...A couple of years ago I made mention that if the Keys are in the Lock You are gone...If Not and is your Home safe as a church Moudse I,at the time got that from a Cop.....

Beth54 · Guru

As JC said this was 'security' and not police, I'd say it was a local law, made by the local council. (My brother works in local law.)

I believe local councils can make their own laws, to a degree.

dazren · Guru

wombat wrote

when they wake you up, call the police and tell them you are too pixxed to drive and these council guys are wanting you to drive

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Womby ! you have to stop being so serious ? and try to get a Jokular type of attitude about you,, you are confusing the people ?? and they do not know when your joking ?? So loosen up buddy lol biggrin biggrin

PS !! I think Dougwe sent them PM's and said you were serious ??? biggrin

KFT · Guru

interesting topic as always there are many emotions around this.

As I understand it and I could be off the mark here, local government can not make law they can only enforce law made by a parliament such as state or federal.

but they can make policy and if an existing law allows them to determine who may camp where then they are entitled to enforce that policy.

campers need to make themselves aware of what is permitted where within a Local Government area in accordance with the local environment plan

stay safe and camp well away from towns

frank

Mary · Senior Member

I am in Bowen at the moment.It is a beautiful place and the foreshore dog friendly cp is great.Stopping with folk this time

brickies · Guru

You are spot on we were there 2 weeks ago great place to visit we will call back in on our return south . I can't believe how this city is being pulled apart because it won't let people free camp

johnq · Guru

justcruisin01 wrote:
Chating to neighbours in the camp this arvo who are part of the motor home get together in Townsville & again in Mareeba soon.
Last year they camped one night at Bowen in a back road dead end & were awaken at 2.00 am by security , that were working for the council & told to move on or cop a $2,000.00 fine.
Why would you support their town???????????????????, Glad it was showday when we came through & all was closed.
JC.

You are right. You presented no risk to to the peace, nor to the environment, just ordinary wayfarers who stopped for recovery.

What has Australia become that doing so is against the law apparently, although the lawfulness of the security guards interference is for conjecture.

I heard on the radio that Australian regulators are world leaders or among world leaders in passing more laws.

Every new law or amendment results in a flow-on of new interpretations and regulations by bureaucrats exercising their delegated powers. Unlike politicians who must justify themselves in parliament or Council, the bureaucrats are not directly accountable for their decisions and under no compulsion to make all exercises of their powers public.

It is worthwhile asking asking what has gone wrong that so many new regulations are now necessary to control the population.

briche · Guru

It seems to us that so much of this area is open to interpretation. We in our short time on the road have found the way council enforce their laws so different from town to town. In the end we just tend to free camp out of the town limit and so far have had no real problems with the exception of a visit from the local "boys in blue" from time to time but no hassles. Once they know who you are that your just resting up their ok with that although a few have said just make sure you move on in the morning, can't ask for better than that. In the end you just have to go by what looks right at the time. Brian

brickies · Guru

Brian you have it right camp outside of the town limits , you can drive into the town and park and have a look around and nobody will hassle you , and that fair to everyone

Dunmowin · Guru

It is not just Bowen, but the entire Whitsundays Shire that does not allow Free Camps. What I found hipocrytical when were were working in Bowen last year, and living in the Caravan Park, was the backpackers flaunting themselves by camping not just over night but week in / week out along the harbour foreshores.

There was one day when they were moved on, but they were back the next day.

Cruising Granny · Guru

One would have thought that if it was an organised gathering they would have organised a parking spot for the group.
Maybe they belong to a certain RV Association.

Dunmowin · Guru

The backpackers were there just for the work. They are also ripped off, promised work and somewhere to sleep, when they arrive,they are told to find somewhere to live, and then the work is piece-meal.

Tanya Benjamin · Newbie

There is a great friendly caravan park south of bowen 58km- "Gunna Go Caravan Park".

It is just north of Proserpine and its is PET FRIENDLY. New owners took over last July

so are working hard to improve since the previous owners. Worth a stop. They have a

licenced bar and meals available. Great location to visit the Whitsunday area without

being surrounded by backpackers!!

rockylizard · Guru

KFT wrote:
interesting topic as always there are many emotions around this.

As I understand it and I could be off the mark here, local government can not make law they can only enforce law made by a parliament such as state or federal.

but they can make policy and if an existing law allows them to determine who may camp where then they are entitled to enforce that policy.

campers need to make themselves aware of what is permitted where within a Local Government area in accordance with the local environment plan

stay safe and camp well away from towns

frank

Gday...

It comes up quite often that "local government/councils" cannot make laws hmm

This is snipped from the following site - http://www.peo.gov.au/learning/closer-look/governing-australia/making-laws.html

Local Council.JPG

cheers - John

-- Edited by rockylizard on Thursday 10th of March 2016 02:53:40 PM