All very well having rules and regulations regarding land ownership and use of crown land, reserves etc. After nearly 50 years of travelling and camping in all sorts of conveyances in all manner of locations there is still one inescapable fact, that is, none of these regulations are enforced.
If anyone doubts this just pull into Clairview on the central Queensland coast and take a look at where the backpackers set up their camps. It won't be hard to find, just keep an eye out for the used toilet paper, shopping bags and discarded 2 minute noodle packets. Of course you have to drive past the extremely cheap campsites to see where these people stay overnight. We have the same issue here in Cairns, all sorts of rules but zero enforcement.
Visitors to our country don't bother to obey our camping regulations and businesses who have councillors in their pockets don't want the illegal campers upset in case they miss out on a few miserable dollars. These same businesses though are only too keen to gouge Australians who want to park a van or motorhome.
The same scenario extends all the way to the Kimberleys.
Recently there have been serious issues at Cow Bay in the Daintree. There is a very small parking area for visitors to the beach and it was being completely overrun by backpackers. Resulting in practically all the available branches being broken off trees for firewood. This is a very small community and has no council resources north of the river to do maintenance. The locals had to complain long and loud to get heard but the next wave of illegal campers will arrive and do exactly the same thing as word is passed amongst o/seas travellers.
Just my 2 cents worth after seeing most of the excellent coastal campsites destroyed in the last 40 years.

Very good informative article but the problem is the bigest offenders wouldnt take the time to read it, thats if they can read. From what I have seen in my first year on the raod indicates quite clearly that the Overseas backpackers are the main offenders possibly because they just dont understand english and due to the living standards in some European/Asian countries. Not saying they are the only ones I have seen some Aussie Travelers do some discusting things, makes you wonder what their homes are like.

Good article, John, and thanks for the link. I must say I'm confused after reading so many comments from GNs on this forum about what a great time they had visiting various places, and then to read a comment like Weedy's. I guess the only way I'll be able to judge the big picture for myself is when I'm finally on the road permanently.

Meanwhile, I'm wondering about the value of leading by example. The article stressed the need to consider the next camper after you, and to leave the site in a clean and tidy condition. In other words, be mindful of your responsibility to the next person. I'm sure the people Weedy refers to - the backpackers and day trippers who leave a mess - don't even think about the next person. So maybe they need to be reminded by signs such as THANK YOU FOR LEAVING THIS SITE CLEAN AND TIDY FOR THE NEXT CAMPER. It's a bit wordy but it's better than short messages like Keep Australia Beautiful that have no meaning, and that don't specifically remind campers of their responsibilities.

If you ask the question why don't some people care about the mess they make, there are probably two answers. 1) Some people just don't give a sheet anyway, and never will. 2) Some people need to be reminded that if they have a right to expect a nice clean camping site, so does the next person, and that it's each camper's responsibility to care for their fellow travellers.

I'd be happy to have a sticker on my rig that said something like I AM A RESPONSIBLE CAMPER or a message to that effect. It there were enough stickers on enough rigs, plus signs with a similar message at camp sites throughout Australia, the message might get through. It's the word 'responsible' that's important... to make people understand that the responsibility for camp site maintenance is in the hands of campers themselves - not governments, not councils but campers.

Yes, Herbie, you're quite right about the problems. However, it's not the problems we need to be talking about, it's solutions. Meanwhile, I take your point about people bypassing dirty camp sites in favor of a cleaner one. If the "good guys" refuse to get their hands dirty, what then?

Gday...

As of just now there have been 338 'reads' of this thread with only eight responses/comments. I am very pleased to see so many read it and hopefully they will take the positive message and apply it and spread the word to those they meet.

I didn't post the article to draw out even more comments about the 'problem' of camps but for it to hopefully be the catalyst for change. I hope my faith in human nature prevails.

Herbie, your comment ... "i can see ( like in some places through out the world ) that camping will be out lawed. And heavy fines handed out" ... can you actually name such places??

I think camping will always remain a valuable pastime and there will always be places to camp in inviting environments away from cities and crowds. These places may increasingly attract a 'fee to camp'. However, I will concede there will be 'free rest areas' that will be closed (outlawed?) due to the inconsideration of some. I don't consider them as 'camping' anyway.

Cheers - John

I don't for one minute condone camping where people don't carry out what they take in and dispose of it in a responsible way but we hear so much about grey nomads and Rvers being responsible for all this.

Have a look around your local parks in town sometime, have a look around the grounds after a football match or V8 race meeting or the fireworks on Sydney harbour on new year's eve. Here is a classic example http://www.gizmodo.com.au/2013/05/disposable-garbage-bag-tents-are-the-cleverest-way-to-keep-camping-clean/

We have a cultural problem, not a camping problem. Try dropping a chewing gum wrapper in Singapore and see how you go.

-- Edited by Bugsy on Saturday 11th of May 2013 04:10:52 PM