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Post Info TOPIC: Non-toileted vans in "Self-Contained" camp areas
Ozzie_Traveller


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Non-toileted vans in "Self-Contained" camp areas
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G'day all [this has been posted elsewhere - so if you have replied there, no need to repeat yourself]

I am seeking ideas please ...
We have just spent 5-weeks down on the South Island - sorry Tassie - and found the RV friendliness there to be great
Plenty of locations where we could stay overnight with no external issues or problems

However - many were signposted "Self Contained" vehicles only and there often seemed to be a whiz-bang camper in attendance too
In one place, at a recognised penguin sanctuary, the signage again clearly said "Self-Contained" vehicles only, and a whiz-bang camper came and settled in for the night. 

My neighbour & I watched as the driver parked close against the bushes - some time later I wandered over and spoke to them
"G'day - how's your travelling & where's home?" sort of stuff ~ to which they had no problems understanding or answering me

but when I asked "do you have a toilet? - it is required for you to be self-contained to camp here" ~ then the comprehension and conversation level suddenly dropped

I then used 2- four-letter words to explain what I was meaning, and told them that without a toilet, they could not stay here for the night and so they soon departed - no idea where to

My concerns are two-fold:-
1) How do we as Aussies get the message across to the backpackers & hired-van whiz-bang campers that they are not "self-contained"?
and
2) What are we as an RV community of users doing to protect our RV Friendly sites where "Self-Contained" campers are allowed?
ie: what does it take to move on the Wikked & other vans etc etc

I am well aware of gov't submissions by the caravan parks industry asking for the closure of Rest Areas & similar places, and enclosing photos taken by the local caravan park people, showing whiz-bang campers in-situ and using these photos as ammunition in their submissions

So- whose 'job' is it to educate these campers? - and whose job is it to move 'em on when they need moving?

Phil



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TAJ


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phil  its not a perfect world so please be careful

            TAJ



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jetj


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I have a whiz bang with a toilet and provided I used baby wipes to clean myself or a wet cloth, I would be self contained for a night or so. Also I believe self contained means no grey water on the ground. Many self contained units run their hoses out on the ground?

I do get what you mean about many backpackers though.






-- Edited by jetj on Saturday 3rd of January 2015 09:23:59 PM

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Janette
dazren


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jetj wrote  [ in part ]    I have a whiz bang with a toilet and provided

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

And there is the Answer !!  smile You have one on board, and so do a lot of other wizzbang travellers, ?? There should be Pressure applied to ALL the companies that hire out these wizzbangs to the backpackers, That ALL whizzbangs hired out to anyone, MUST HAVE A PORTALOO, as standard   compulsary  equipment, along with a card outlining the Rules, Laws, and Etiquette, of there use,



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Bruce and Bev


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Daryl. You've hit the nail on the head for the majority of these problems - the (mainly young) overseas tourists who arrive here and usually buy a 2nd hand van at one of the organized sell/buy meets that are advertised on-line in places lake QLD. These vehicles are not equipped with any toilets or water holding facilities, but they free camp wherever they go - then bugger off to another country after a 3 mnth hike around Aust.

And yes, hire companies should by law need to require a porta pottie etc and their clients given written notices about polluting our land.

And that, very sadly, doesn't include some of the rest of us Aust citizens who free camp and don't care about dumping rubbish, bodily waste etc.

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hako


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What do you reckon Aussie young blokes and sheilas do when they travel overseas in rented whiz bangs.....I'll bet my bottom dollar they do exactly the same as backpackers from overseas do in our country.


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Denis

Ex balloon chaser and mercury measurer.

Toowoomba.
Bruce and Bev


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Denis - shame on you...........surely the "flowers of our future" wouldn't do this when a guest overseas LOL!!!! (and don't forget they drink too much and have loud and abusive mouths to add to our reputation with the host countries)

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Ozzie_Traveller


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G'day all ~ fellas & shielas, guys & gals ... whichever you prefer :)

Okay - your thoughts & comments are noted ~ and the issue is not an easy one

Yes - the wikkid-type of cheap hire van is very common and they only hire to a party of 2 or 3 people as that's all the seat belts provided
The other 'mob' of fly-in & buy a cheapie traveller type, is exhibited last week when a tree branch fell onto a van containing 5 backpackers [you can read the headlines etc etc], but few if any whiz-bangs have 5 seatbelts and certainly, zero have toilets installed

I'm thinking it is an issue of terminology - we are well aware of "self-contained" and when we see the signage, we respond accordingly
However, if we but up signs of "No Dunny = No Camping" it might make it a bit clearer to 'them-lot'

btw- @janette ... thx for your note, you are very correct with the issue of grey water disposal via a black hose & out of sight = out of mind for many travellers. It's no wonder there's so many ants around campsites when we feed them the kitchen-sink scraps at the end of a hosepipe. Also - [and i'm not meaning to be rude here] but are you aware that baby wipes do not break down in the sewerage system, rather they clog up the pipes etc. Regular dunny paper is all that's needed.

Phil

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jules47


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Ozzie traveller, the baby wipes are used to clean your body, not as toilet paper. Disposed of in the rubbish bin. Just for your info. And I agree the hire companies should be made responsible!

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hako


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I wonder if it is illegal to defecate or whatever in the bush. I know it is in cities/towns as every fri/sat night a few will get arrested, but in a designated "self contained RVs only" area on the edge of a rural town if the whiz bang occupant went off the cleared area to nearby scrub/bush for privacy then is that illegal? I'd guess that it would be a council law or is it a law at all or just a sign put up by interested groups. Has anyone ever been fined?
A few years ago when we visited France we noted that it was not uncommon to see men mainly squatting on the side of country roads in fully unashamed view - maybe it's part of their culture.
I agree with Phil that it is a pain, but I don't think it will ever change.

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Denis

Ex balloon chaser and mercury measurer.

Toowoomba.
Dunmowin


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As we are researching our trip to Tassie later this year, we have contacted Tourism Tassy, and National parks (happens to be the same people) and they were not able to give us a definitive answer in regard to "self contained RV", however, I found a document produced by the Local Government of Tasmania Policy Guidelines for Recreational Vehicles (attached) and an extract below:

  

Two examples of definitions for self-contained RVs follow:-

 

A vehicle that has internal cooking facilities; sleeping facilities plus water tanks for drinking and other purposes; holding tanks for "grey water" and holding tanks for toilet effluent and shower facilities. (Devonport City Council)

  

This is pretty clear as far as I am concerned.

 

 



-- Edited by Dunmowin on Sunday 4th of January 2015 01:09:37 PM

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DMaxer


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It is good to know you are out there protecting us Phil. Do you wear a uniform or any type of costume with an insignia?



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spida


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I am In Tas now and must say I am impressed with the number of Dump points so far. Although I dont have a 'grey water' tank I figured that if I am at a 'self contained only' camp and run the water into a bucket them use the dump I am achieving the same result. How many with grey water tanks empty them into the dump rather than letting them run along the road as they travel ( so I am told LOL).
Otherwise I will keep the water in a container until I can dump it properly.

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hako


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spida wrote:

I am In Tas now and must say I am impressed with the number of Dump points so far. Although I dont have a 'grey water' tank I figured that if I am at a 'self contained only' camp and run the water into a bucket them use the dump I am achieving the same result. How many with grey water tanks empty them into the dump rather than letting them run along the road as they travel ( so I am told LOL).
Otherwise I will keep the water in a container until I can dump it properly.

 I reckon you'd be OK spida, that's what we'd do - we've been to van parks at the end of dusty dirt roads that ask you to drain your grey water tanks on the way out to keep the dust down.

Regards



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Denis

Ex balloon chaser and mercury measurer.

Toowoomba.
Ozzie_Traveller


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jules47 wrote:

Ozzie traveller, the baby wipes are used to clean your body, not as toilet paper. Disposed of in the rubbish bin. Just for your info. And I agree the hire companies should be made responsible!

 Thank you, Phil



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JackoFJR


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Kleenex flushable wipes say Biodegradable ok in septic system , they ok or not ?

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jetj


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JackoFJR wrote:

Kleenex flushable wipes say Biodegradable ok in septic system , they ok or not ?

 Jacko I don't know the answer but I certainly wouldn't flush them. Baby wipes are good to clean hands after using the potti as well as freshen the body if unable to shower.  Always go in the rubbish though.



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Janette
JackoFJR


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It dosent say anything about babies or anything about wiping anything other than ya arse .

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