According to a small notice in todays' Morning Bulletin, the Rockhampton Council, at last Tuesdays' Council Meeting, approved a 6 month Trial for free-camping at Woolwash Lagoon, 5 K's south of Rocky.
It's not off the Bruce Highway. You have to go down Port Curtis Road to get to it.
Check at the Information Centre for directions.
Cheers,
Sheba.
-- Edited by Sheba on Saturday 28th of September 2013 08:22:22 PM
Great news Sheba. Congratulations to Rockhampton Council for bucking the trend and inviting us to prove our commitment to the town and its services. Lets not disappoint them. Go, stay and keep the site immaculate. Clean up if necessary. We need innovative councils like this who can think independently of the lets charge em and close em lobby! If we deliver what we promise the site may well be available for extended periods.
Was up fishing near Rocky QLD this arvo,and decided to go have a look at this free 48hr camp.
You can access it from the Bruce Hwy, The road (Roope Rd) is to your right if heading north on Hwy about 200odd metres past the turn off to Grasmere Follow Roope rd for about 12ks and the camp area is along the side of lagoon to your left.To access from travelling south through Rocky turn east off Bruce Hwy 3.8ks south of Fitzroy river bridge (opposite info centre ) head down Port Cutis Rd for about 4ks and you will arrive at the lagoon. there is no facilities so would need to be very self reliant and lots of bug killer.
The locals were saying this used to be a free camp a few years back but due to over stayers ( free loaders ) it was closed.That is why it will be 48hrs.
Yes same one as Sheba was talking about, when I was there today the signs were still up around the area REGARDING THE NO CAMPING, GUESS IT WILL TAKE A LITTLE WHILE TO RE ERECT NEW SIGNS.
Hi, The road along the Woolwash used to be the original Bruce Hwy. The remains of the Tropic of Cancer building were still there a few years ago. Don't know if it accessible from the south as Roopes Bridge was condemned a while back but there was a move by locals to have it opened to light traffic. Don't know if this was successful. Good place for an overnighter but no facilities. Nice shady trees. Would be a good spot to leave the van & explore the area if there was some security.
Some of the local hoons use it for burnouts etc. Also used to be a popular lovers lane.
Roopes Bridge is a spot to catch a barra when the lagoons are flooding. The Woolwash was once the site of a wool scour (hence the name) & the paddocks around it were used for spelling & fattening sheep. It is about the last in a chain of lagoons that stretch around between Gracemere & Rockhampton past the golf course, aerodrome & others. These are the ancient Fitzroy River course. The creek is tidal downstream of the bridge & empties into the Fitzroy on the outskirts of R'ton (Gavial Ck).
The locals yesterday were telling me it was 48hrs,so maybe this has been reduced to 24hrs.
While I was there yesterday there was young bucks fishing and drinking and just throwing their stubbies every where,so it is not always the over nighter leaving the mess behind,but of course we will get the blame.
The trees a very big and if you were looking for some sun re charge solar,maybe not a good place.
Do not think I would leave my van there unattended,and yes the mossies/midgies were bad there yesterday and we really haven't had the rains yet.
I did not see any sign regarding any weight re bridge,but that is not saying there is not,because of all the bridge working going on over the Fitzroy river a lot of vehicles must use Point Curtis Rd and Rookes Rd as a by pass to get into Rocky as there was heaps of traffic .
After going up to check it out, I have to agree with you herbie. It's basically a long narrow strip along the Lagoon.
It would be a Bog-hole too, with a good rainfall I'd say. I noticed one lot of wheel-ruts under one of the Fig trees that must have been at least 6-8 inches deep. [Didn't get a pic. of that.]
There are a few solid looking pads along the way, but not many. Took a few pics. so you can see what I mean.
Cheers,
Sheba.
-- Edited by Sheba on Monday 30th of September 2013 07:32:47 PM
In my opinion Rockhampton have opened this strip of un kept section of tire rutted over grown weed section
as in the local paper awhile back they (council) were looking for ways to attract the travelling public to stop as the town was missing out on the golden $. They sure as hell have not gone out of there way to provide any thing above this .
