Negative article in Toowoomba Bulletin

GaryKelly · Guru

Negative article in Toowoomba Bulletin

hako · Guru

I've attached a note from todays Toowoomba Bulletin which is negative about campers ......nothing new!

Just hope the council realises the benefit these campers bring to Mitchell (QLD)

jules47 · The Happy Helper

I don't know of any camper with a portable loo who would even think of emptying it into or even near a river or creek system!!!

Never seen it happen - they may empty into the septic system, but not into the water!!!!!!
The writer of the article - "Fossil, Westbrook" must be a fossil, living in the past!

kandagal · Guru

Of course people wouldn't empty their cassettes into the river. Australia is well supplied with dump points now & I should imagine all campers have a book that details where they are situated. Article definitely written by someone with limited knowledge.
The first time we visited Mitchell - 1994 -there was only one caravan park & the town was just somewhere where most travellers passed through on their way to Charleville. Then they decided to give travellers the first 2 nights free at the caravan park. This caused more travellers to stay & Mitchell gradually become a destination & the town prospered because of that.

rockylizard · Guru

Gday..

I must admit the writer, 'Fossil', has drawn on quite probably an extreme and unlikely example of the actions of 'campers' at the weir regarding "porta-loos".

However, through circumstances rather than choice, so far this year I have been travelling in the more 'popular' areas of QLD. I usually stay in and around small inland towns and camp spots. Additionally, these circumstances have meant I have spent most of the year staying van parks for extended periods.

I have personally been observing, and through photos that have been posted on this forum, that the popular "free camps" do attract large numbers of vans/motorhomes this time of year. Not new news in itself, just my getting a different perspective.

I must admit that, if I were a "local", I would find these crowded "free camps" quite an eyesore when full of travellers. To visit what is an area of probable recreation in my 'back yard' and find it so chockers is quite off-putting. In many cases, 'locals' would see that travellers should be in their 'allocated place' ... a caravan park.

I have been to Neil Turner Weir in 2011 and decided not stay there because I thought it too crowded and too much 'caravan park like'. It certainly looks just like a caravan park with all the vans lined up next to each other ad infinitum. That time, I went down to Fisherman's Rest about 5km further along the Maranoa River and had the spot all to myself amongst the gum trees.

What I am trying to say is that I am becoming much more understanding of "locals" who are becoming tired of seeing such crowds in their 'back yards'. The business in the town probably welcomes the 'extra spend' of the travelling bank accounts, but not the average ratepayer. The major problem, as I see it, is this situation is only going to get worse as there are more and more vans being sold and GNs hitting the road and looking for a free holiday - well, trying to contain expenses.

Solutions? Who knows. I just know I will be so much happier when I can revert to my usual style of travel and get into real campsites in the bush away from towns and get some peace.

Cheers - John

Golddetectornomad · Senior Member

So what actually makes it "THEIR BACKYARDS"? Australia for all Australians to enjoy..greed takes so many forms these days....it's Un -Australian.......Hoo Roo

jetj · Guru

I wonder if it was written by a person with a vested interest in paid camping?

johnq · Guru

Allegations unanswered quickly become the truth.

Here are 'The Team' at the newspaper, get writing!

http://www.thechronicle.com.au/our-team/

Short and polite can achieve a lot. Because even if not printed, the email or letter shows another side to the journalist or editor concerned with the chance of a positive spin-off later down the track. These people know and talk with local government at all levels and with businesses.

Rip and Rosie · Guru

Golddetectornomad wrote:
So what actually makes it "THEIR BACKYARDS"? Australia for all Australians to enjoy..greed takes so many forms these days....it's Un -Australian.......Hoo Roo

Like, they live there, and pay rates there.

I know who's being "greedy" wanting something for free.... and don't tell me you spend more than a couple of $$ in these small towns, which hardly pays them back.

Gerty Dancer · Guru

People actually do empty their cassettes into a river, saw the mess left where they'd been, as they missed the water and hit the bank. Yuk! And this was at the back of a caravan park!
Not everybody who drives a self-contained m/home is familiar with Australian rules in this respect, or maybe they don't care.

George · Veteran Member

I agree with you Gerty Dancer, I was at Daly Waters talking to a couple towing a large 5th wheeler and they readily admitted that they
have dumped grey and black out of their tanks into the bush. Needless to say I gave them a piece of my mind.

I think as more and more of us go "out there" the laws will change regulating storing and dumping of black waste. Certainly there are more dump points being installed. This is why I am in the process of installing a marine toilet, to dispose of waste in a sensible manner. God help us if the politicians get involved in regulating our lifestyle, but I believe it will happen. I saw it when I was a yatch owner many years ago! Tax, tax, and more taxes!!

Be safe,
George

Cloak · Guru

I agree with the author insofar as asking the authorities to check into the situation.

That said their argument is based on supposition that people would "almost certainly" dump in the river.
Now linking the pollution of the towns drinking water and safety of children swimming is a red herring argument, again a poor attempt.
Also the assumption that the site is over crowded at times is based on what data?

Let local Govt have a look and make the call.

Cheers.

Steve

Weedy Pigeon · Senior Member

Is it a negative article or is it just the truth? As for the "economic benefits" supposedly brought by "campers", how does the town survive in the middle of summer when there's not a camper to be seen.
If the campers didn't arrive for a few years would the town disappear? I think not.
I can't think of one Queensland town that I have lived or worked in in the past 47 years that would really miss a few campers.

Cruising Granny · Guru

I have parked in places frequented by travellers and truckies and I've seen "logs" with and without paper right there on the edge of the parking bay, not covered or concealed.
Humans can be pigs judging by the streamers of dunny roll draped around the bushes of the nearby vegetation.
In-house toilets or not, humans can be pigs.
I would trust it's none of us, but believe me, they are out there, and councils must tear their hair out after long weekends at these recreation grounds.
Facilities are minimal if at all, so people just go and do what they wouldn't do at home in their own back yard.
The answer is to educate the people, including the councillors about what really happens out here in the real world.
It stinks!

nallingtoon · Senior Member

some years ago my wife and i managed a holiday apartment block in burleigh heads came round the corner in the basement one morning to the lift and there sat a bloody great log still steaming want happy about cleaning it up

~Neil

Onedodger · Guru

Weedy Pigeon wrote:
Is it a negative article or is it just the truth? As for the "economic benefits" supposedly brought by "campers", how does the town survive in the middle of summer when there's not a camper to be seen.
If the campers didn't arrive for a few years would the town disappear? I think not.
I can't think of one Queensland town that I have lived or worked in in the past 47 years that would really miss a few campers.

Mitchell was doing it hard until the council owned caravan park started with the first 2 days free then you pay then later changed it to pay for 2 days get the next 2 free. During this time many tourists and grey nomads visited the town and spent some dollars there. The locals even had a small booklet that was given to those at the spa baths and it gave a lot of discounts such as a meal at the pub with the second one free.

We have been visitors to this town many times and have enjoyed their hospitality staying at the park, weir and fishermans rest.

Each time we have stocked up on food beverages and fuel before leaving. We have also as many do spend a fair bit of time at the spa baths as well as having meals and coffee in town.

Because of this and other like minded people the town is now back on its feet.

For us the only downside is that the caravan park is now run privately and the charges have risen considerably.

So IMHO the above post is a little lop sided.

There are many small towns doing similar in Qld.

Viz. Meandarra, Aramac, Muttaburra, Jericho and many more.

Knowledge speaks, but wisdom listens.