Central Coast Council will install new signage at its reserves and carparks prohibiting free parking between 10pm and 5am in a bid to stamp out illegal free camping in beach carparks.
Deputy Mayor Doug Eaton was successful in getting Council to agree to a number of measures regarding free camping amid fears the issue would “dramatically” increase over Summer holidays.
His motion, put to the December Council meeting, included directing CEO David Farmer to urgently review and install signage to prohibit free parking at Council reserves and carparks and for Council’s rangers to enforce the restrictions immediately.
Following some amendments, the motion was passed with the Mayor’s casting vote.
It also stated that in cases of genuine homelessness, Council rangers are to offer referral to appropriate support services.
The motion also moved that Council staff negotiate with the NRMA as the operators of council caravan parks to offer temporary free or subsidised accommodation to the genuine homeless for a short period and that staff investigate other appropriate accommodation options.
The CEO is to report back to Council in February on the implementation and effectiveness of these measures and other relevant issues.
“My concern is that these illegal free campers are taking up beachside parking spots making them unavailable for residents and tourists,” Eaton said.
He told the meeting that if enforcement was not carried out, carparks and reserves would be overrun in the Summer school holiday period.
The move follows a number of complaints by Budgewoi residents late last year about the high number of people camping at the two carparks at Lakes Beach.
Residents said some were living at the carparks for weeks and even months at a time.
One resident who did not want to be named said a bus in the Lakes Beach Surf Club carpark had been there for more than a month and was in the same spot last year for four months.
But a second carpark with no toilet facilities, more remote and further away from the surf club, attracted the most campers.
Another resident who travels past the carparks every day said sometimes the second carpark was full of campers.
With no toilet facilities, the residents believe campers are using nearby bush.
“Local ratepayers are not happy,” one resident said.
“Locals would love to have a house on the beach but cannot afford it.
“They are taking up all the parking spaces and I don’t think it’s fair for local ratepayers.”
Denice Barnes
I pass Lakes Beach two or three times on most days. All carparks including the Surf Club are never 100% full. Yes there are a few campers in caravans,buses and the odd tent.Some have been there for a couple of weeks but I’m yet to see any detrimental impact. Jenny Dickson Reserve attracts the odd camper as does the top car park at Soldier’s. Very few of these are travelling campers touring our country. Most are living in there’s due to high rents, low availability ect.
Leave them alone,they just want to live quietly, they do no harm. The old saying ” there but for the grace of God go I ” could apply to any of us.
It’s one thing to put up signs but how will it be policed? Our local beach carpark has half a dozen regular overnight campers and 3 that have taken up permanent residence. Slowly more and more see this and think it’s a free for all.
I understand the need to ensure public facilities are not being monopolised by some. It does concern me that others could be prevented accessing these areas for valid reasons. I am a fisherman and can regularly use various car parks after 10PM or prior to 4AM. Having dealt with council on other issues they can be hard to shift when they have a course of action in mind. I am a ratepayer I would be extremely angered by having my vehicle fined or towed in such circumstances. As noted arguing the point would be like trying to convince a shark to give your arm back. I would suggest that vehicles would need to be in the same location with additional proof of “camping” before taking action. Additionally this action should be humane, assisting people resolve accommodation issues. I am also concerned by councilor Eaton’s phrasing “free parking”. Is this possibly the thin edge of the wedge where all coastal carparks become user pays.
People parking overnight may have a variety of reason for stopping including “Stop – Revive – Survive”. The risks of driving for hours without a break can be tragic and happen in a microsleep.
Why not put a 24 hour maximum on stopping.
times are very hard for some of us.the likes of council wanting to move them on. being to poor to pay high rents is not a sin. got to live somewhere.
Where does it stop. They don’t pay Rates, they put rubbish and toilet waste into nearby bush or in the public toilets. It brings the whole area down reducing the value of the area. Left to continue it will end up a shanty town in prime beachside locations. I don’t believe they are all homeless I can’t afford a caravan that is worth $70-100k with a Porsche to drive it. example under Toukley bridge. We have a system of unemployment benefits in Australia so no-one is left with no money. If you can’t afford a beach side rental, then move into the country towns. They are crying out to keep their towns alive. Enough is enough the Council needs to enforce the current rules on the signs that are already in place. What are we paying the Rangers for, if it all too hard? I will send a rates notice to the person in the bus at Lakes Beach who has been there for much longer than a month.
If I were you I wouldn’t be threatening anyone with falsified rates notices in my opinion that would make you as bad as the scammers
Little man
Get a life
It sounds to me that your a jealous little person
People that buy caravans campers pay revenue to you know rego ins stamp duty etc…
And I think you’d find that not only do you have homeless people you have tourists that spend money in the area
And guess what just because you pay rates doesn’t make you a better person
People like you cause hysteria
You need to own what you say
Possibally don’t have the intellect though
Nasty!!
We are in a economical crisis not everyone wants to stay in a caravan park they are overpriced and overcrowded
we have to many restrictions as it is, I’m a resident here and I haven’t heard any complaints nor had any issues, I use these carpark and reserves all the time, leave them alone
some of the wording and accusations sounds like defamation of character. how is illegal to be parked in a 24/7 carpark as advertised on the council website. I would like to see if any input has been put in from the homeless. a worker from chambers of commerce called us derelicts. I have earned hard all my life paid ridiculous high rents for dumps. get all the facts right before commenting and making decisions. as a lot of homeless are residents and spend most of their money here keeping people in jobs
it’s a problem right along the coast. everyone pays at these destinations either you live there and pay a mortgage or you pay rent you are in an Air bnb holiday house or caravan park we are all paying to be there. why are these cashed up travellers get a free holiday. unless everyone is entitled to a free holiday then no one should get it one rule for everyone. go inland free camps there then come and visit during the day. if you are driving tired highway rest stop. there’d no excuse you can think of to make it okay. homelessness including there are less high profile busy places you will be allowed to stay for short stays.
I agree. rents are high. give them a place to stay overnight. drive, revive, survive…can be a deadly decision for someone to make. If I have to stop, I park where there is a local park, and stay the night. A couple of times, I noticed a lack of places I can do this? so, give us a space, advertise it. And you will see a drop in these situations. please help us, and we can help you 🙏 ❤️
we in sa invite campers we put toilet shower blocks in certain areas council should take a leaf out of there book.council should put toilet blocks problem solved..I live next door to Brown bay parking area and enjoy the campers be it overseas or grey nomad the all are good to talk to give them a go.i to am a camper
Any council action with Doug Eaton’s name attached to it is a worry to me.
I have no issue with them and weekly visit named beach just sad the effluent with no toilets.Last year my visiting daughter named it p… park as it stank so much we could no longer visit there. At the side of Toukley bridge the two caravans have moved even have their own jetty and all fenced in how come?
Move them on already! FFS just have a look at the entrance picnic point , it’s filthy now and has a bad smell. Move on please
How about Picnic Point ? There are people that have been camped there for months. It’s a mess . I feel unsafe so I don’t go there any more. where do they toilet and wash?
about time ….. there has also been campers at North Entrance car park that have been there for months. These have been large extenable vans. Mind you there is 2 caravan parks nearby. Why should they be allowed to park there free when most people are doing the right thing and using the parks. If they can afford a couple of hundred thousand dollars for the vans surely they can pay for camping. l do believe in free camping where there are no caravan parks.
I have a lot of experience meeting people whom have nothing but the vehicle they are in.
Lots of the women we have spoken to have been bashed by partners and husbands and had to make a quick and dangerous retreat from a rental house or home where the male has threatened them or in some cases beaten and tried to kill them. These people have barely enough to feed themselves and have fuel to pay as well. You are forcing them to go out to the bush where there aren’t toilets and they have to use their fuel getting back and forth. Besides forcing them out the council lock the toilets overnight. Does the council think bowels do not work between 6 pm and 6am!!! The council put bullies out and around overnight and they wait until 2am and bash and bang on the side of their vehicle which frightens them and they are scared to sleep. Also travellers who are mostly pensioners cannot afford the greedy prices of camping areas. They charge anything they fancy, some $80 to $150 per night for a little van. Most are in bed at 9pm and have only had a light on for an hour or so and a quick shower so why so much. Pensioners cannot afford these exorbitant prices. They live on the pension and camp because they cannot afford to pay to stay at home and heat their houses and pay big electricity bills. The councils in these little towns and beaches aught to be glad to have these travellers come as they buy a drink, either have a meal or spend in the supermarket and boost the budget of lots of little shops. I am upset seeing so many towns and beeches with shops which are closed because of lack of customers. Think twice councillors and don’t be bullies who hound these people. The travellers have worked all their life and now they are retired they just want to see our beautiful country and we have to stay somewhere without being threatened with fines for using a toilet.
I use these carparks regularly as this is a dog friendly beach. There is nothing wrong with staying the odd night in these places. it’s the people that set up camp there for months,then have garage sales from the beach carpark, then have a big domestic dispute with yelling and screaming and obscene swearing language while there is young children in the carpark.Then the next day they are as high as kites on drugs pacing up and down the carpark.Then being asked if I want to buy some drugs. Also doing motor maintenance, putting new brakes on the front of their car. They take up 5 car spots right near the entry walkway to the beach where everyone can see and hear everything. These trash bags now have spoilt it for all the genuine users who want to spend the odd night hear.These people should be evicted from this carpark. The council should take note and issue notices to these people and not punish the rest of the genuine users. why should we all be punished and not allowed to park at our beaches at night. I do shift work and often take my dog to this beach at 11pm after my shift at work, but now I can’t because of the trash that has ruined it for all of us. Council please rectify the offenders not the genuine users. much appreciated.
So where are these people meant to go?.
plus who’s using the csrpark from 10pm to 5an ?… nobody. so help them out!.
your creating more problems if they can’t stay there overnight.
Local council are not recognised as a tier of government and have zero authority. 2 referendums ratified that fact. If you want to sleep in the dirt and feel like doing that, then do it.
check part 8 of the NSW constitution, it most defiantly is a level of government.
If people are truely struggling with homelessness and are forced then I’m sure there are places they could park and camp for free or a small gold coin donation as other rural towns have taken this option attracting grey nomads. It just always seems to be waterfront property that these on hard times seem to chose to set up camp.
staying a night or 2 there is no harm. it these people that stay there permanently and leave rubbish everywhere and have domestic arguments so the whole carpark can hear is the problem. I use the dog exercising beach everyday to walk my dog and have a swim. the behaviour and rubbish left around these permanent sites is atrocious. I also walk my dog there at night after my night shift at 11.30 pm. they should have a 48hr limit stay. that way the legitimate park users such as fisherman and dog owners can use the park.