Bloody disgraceful. Why can't Authorities move them on? Authorities bang on about fining Nomads for parking in non parking areas but I have never heard of nomads leaving excreta round areas like these so called campers. Bloody disgrace.
Yep, a bloody disgrace. If I were a local resident there I'd be furious too. But I'm blowed if I know how to stop a minority from spoiling things for the vast majority.
I agree it is disgusting, but what's with the wiz bangs, most of the offending vehicles are station wagons and looking at the photo looks remarkably like backpacker type vehicles.
Most of us with Wiz Bangs are responsible people.
-- Edited by jetj on Friday 10th of January 2014 07:54:44 PM
I agree with ieti we are owners of a wiz bang and we certainly don't agree with what is going on at horseshoe bay but please don't think all wiz bang owners are like that after all it is the few that spoil it for the rest of us.
My wife and I live in Lake Macquarie, we stayed on the Stockton foreshore with twelve other vehicles from our chapter of the CMCA.
The area was open by Ncle city council for two nights, we along with a multitude of others in motor homes and caravans, tents and wiz bangs enjoyed the fireworks.
We also left the site cleaner than we found it.
The problem area is situated across the harbor from Stockton at Horse shoe beach, a popular dog friendly location and adjacent to Nobbies Surf Club.
It was NOT Wizz bangs, but vans and station wagons often the type used by backpackers. It is these visitors to our country that have caused the problem.
Newcastle is the head office for the CMCA organisation, and neither Ncle City Council or adjoining Lake Macquarie City Council provide an adequate freedom camping site.
NO SITE at all actually. The revenue the grey nomad spends in regions we visit is beyond estimation.
I still advocate, we need a political party, the shooter, fishermen and car hoons have a political party.
Are we so far behind the eight ball, I dont think so
sorry jetz, I am afraid I did group you all, It was meant to mean Backpackers in wiz bangs. Thing is now it seems the choice of vehicle for back packers has shifted to station wagons
Myself and many others see this behaviour no different than the nailing of foot wear into a tree by Grey Nomads and you cannot blame the back packers on this behaviour. Sorry folks there can't be a law for the back packers and one for the Grey Nomads when it comes to protecting our invro.
sorry jetz, I am afraid I did group you all, It was meant to mean Backpackers in wiz bangs. Thing is now it seems the choice of vehicle for back packers has shifted to station wagons
No problem or offence taken, I just felt I had to set the record straight.
This is not a Newcastle problem, and it is certainly not a backpacker problem.
It is not even a camping problem.
It happens all over this country wherever people gather and there are insufficient or inadequate facilities.
Myself and many others see this behaviour no different than the nailing of foot wear into a tree by Grey Nomads and you cannot blame the back packers on this behaviour. Sorry folks there can't be a law for the back packers and one for the Grey Nomads when it comes to protecting our invro.
No Difference ?? Well I just hope that You, and the ''many others'' and those backpackers do not share my camp spot, ? As I would not mind if you wanted to nail a thong to a Tree ?? BUT. if you think you can ''Crap ' under that same Tree, As there is No Difference between the Two deeds. '
As I am sure that Myself, and many thousands of others, as well as a few backpackers, would consider there to be a HUGE difference between those two deeds
Sorry folks there can't be a law for the back packers and one for the Grey Nomads when it comes to protecting our invro.
The law should be aimed at the guilty and not the innocent be they back packers, grey nomads or locals. The easy way out is to issue a total ban because no one takes issue until one day there'll be nowhere left to camp.
Grubs don't necessarily drive certain types of vehicles. It all depends on how they were brunged up. I've had a few tradies in this house - vinyl layers, cleaners, etc - who say some people's houses are filthy beyond description, with dog faeces and crap all over the place. My guess is those kinds of people are attracted to anything that's free and have no respect for anyone or anything, including themselves. They're everywhere... in homes, offices, parks, trains, you name it. The day we manage to get rid of them will be the day supermarkets stop selling co-ckroach baits. I'm just as frustrated as anyone else but the only way I can see of at least keeping the problem under reasonable control at free camps is for councils to patrol them in return for visitors spending their money locally.
Well! I have a whizzbang and proud of it. I have an inside toilet which means once I close the whizz- bang you won't hear another sound from me till morning.
I'm also the instigator of the thong tree and proud of it. Get a life, I have.
I'm proud to be the instigator of quite a few things in my senior years. Are you?
Maybe the invention of the whinging pills.
I used to stick lots of nails in trees in my younger days building tree houses and so did my friends. And I'd do it again one day if and when I'm blessed with grand children.
I am sure the guys that crap under the trees think they are Lava Trees. (Where's a smilie when I need one).
I thought the thong tree had been put to rest. I was travelling through the SA countryside and seen another thong tree, I cannot remember where it was now, not too far away, but I was nearly going to stop and take a pic, but thought better of it as the subject had been put to bed. I now wish I had done so, the other thing is that the nails that are put into the tree actually feed the tree with the zinc in the nails so for goodness sake get over it.
Like Dougwe said, enough is enough.
As for the whizbangs, well I think that is like looking at something or someone and making a decision on our predjuces. The only thing is that these types of vehicles are usually used by backpackers, and older types of vehicles. And as has been previously said they are damaging the freedom the majority have.
When camping at Dartmoor, I was talking to the resources guys that maintain the area and they were telling me that they are going to upgrade the facilities there by putting in a dump site, toilets and showers. I said to the guys that a dump site would be great but the rest a disaster as it will encourage the backpackers, they leave a mess and then the site will be closed down. There are toilets and a shower in the town area if they need it. A dump site would be good though. It is such a beautiful peaceful area, and would be such a shame if that was too happen.
Ok enough of my rant and whinge for the day, so long live the thong trees of Australia.
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I am fun and adventure. So much to see, so much to do, so many people to meet. Will see, do, and meet all that I can.
Well! I have a whizzbang and proud of it. I have an inside toilet which means once I close the whizz- bang you won't hear another sound from me till morning. I'm also the instigator of the thong tree and proud of it. Get a life, I have. I'm proud to be the instigator of quite a few things in my senior years. Are you? Maybe the invention of the whinging pills.
Whenever the term Whizzbang is used I only ever think of the ones driven by backpackers..
The one you and other GN's have HW are well cared for Campervans and there is a difference..
The other thing I find is that the troublesome whizzbangs stick mostly to the coast and stop in and around towns along the way..
we travel mostly inland on good roads but not always along highways and see very little of them..
Have another read of that article. It has been updated this afternoon
Newcastle city council HAVE acted it would appear.
Now nobody can use that site
frank
That's usually the case. Another campsite gone because of filthy grubs.
All the people who complain that free-camps are being closed because of caravan parks should also remember the work involved in cleaning up after filthy campers is a very good reason to close down a campsite.
If you read the article it suggests that there are no toilet facilities in the immediate area, one comment being made is that they had to walk all the way to the train station to go to the toilet. Perhaps we should obtain ALL the facts instead of quickly assuming its the whiz bangers(tourists) etc that are to cause. Reading the article it suggests that perhaps the facilities are not there, and or the area is not properly patrolled by rangers, perhaps more questions should be asked of the council as to why this is allowed to be happening, why aren't they cleaning it up, where are the bins, portable toilets for busy holiday season, if they dont know whats going on in their turf, and acting on it, then it suggests that they are turning a blind eye and blame is a dish quickly served.............
As for thongs nailed into trees......we all need a purpose in life, that which fullfils our existence, herbies seems to be thongs up trees.....fair enough.
Cheers George
-- Edited by george57 on Saturday 11th of January 2014 12:31:10 PM
Just like to add I am happy to be in the 2% of people doing the right thing whilst travelling this great country.
I guess the 98% of you on here do not follow the CMCA code of LNT ( for the 98%ers that refers to Leave No Trace )Wounds in trees don't heal like a wound to your body. The tree seals off the wound instead of regenerating the cells, and new growth appears around the damage. This process is called compartmentalization.have a nice week end all the 2%ers out there.