What started as a community’s gesture of good will has turned into a headache for residents of Ferry St, North Macksville.
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The free parking area at Lions Park has been steadily gaining in popularity, attracting 132 campers in the space of a fortnight over the Christmas season, according to the residents who live opposite.
“Personally I have become fed up with the free camping,” Ferry St resident Joe Costa said at the last council meeting in January.
According to neighbours the problem has been getting worse since the bypass opened.
And it’s not hard to see the proof of that when you peruse the site’s reviews on the free camping ‘bible’, Wikicamps.
“Great quiet overnighter now that the highway bypasses the town. Signs now indicate that RVs are welcome to stay in designated spots. Not many spots but all are on tar beside the river,” a review from ‘Conquesters’ said.
“Nice little place but only 5 parking spaces and 25 loads of people. Maybe the council can allow overnight parking after 6pm in the many other car parks here.” ‘RV TOT’ said in their Wikicamps review from December 28.
The site has received a rating of 3.4 stars (out of five) and is the only (legal) wholly gratis overnight stay in the area.
The Macksville Showgrounds used to be reserved for overnight stays, but that practice has since stopped.
And the issues for residents are multiplying in direct proportion to the numbers of campers the site is attracting.
“Campers park where they wish, leave their belongings as they wish, get rid of waste products as they wish. And I’ve seen them setting up and washing up from breakfast on the fish cleaning tables – I’ve even seen them setting up camp on the boat ramp itself,” Mr Costa said.
Cr Janine Reed tabled a list of complaints made by residents to present to council which include:
- People discharging grey water into the river (with no consideration to local oyster farmers)
- People washing grey water containers on the fish cleaning bench
- Disposal of raw sewerage into the mangroves
- Showering in portable showers with grey water running into the river
- Rubbish being dumped (and incorrectly sorted) in residents’ bins
- Campers spending an entire weekend at the site
There have also been reports from residents of campers flagrantly violating the ‘no tents’ rule and camping on the lawn directly adjacent to the beach.
“Breakfast with the pelicans, very nice … I camped behind a tree but on the lawn of the park. Till 1pm. No problem. Don’t leave a trace and you’re good to go.” One review on Wikicamps from November 8 said.
And residents who have tried to point out the violation to those campers in questions have come up against hostility.
Look out for the self appointed camp commander. He has no authority, but he convinces campers to move on anyway.
- Wikicamps review from January 2.
Another complaint from both residents and other campers alike has been the use of noisy generators at the site.
“Nice location. Clean toilets. But what a noisy night we had. Heard every train and truck go past. Someone got up at 0530 with country music and generator. Haha.” BB’s wrote on their January 18 review.
“I’m sure when this park was first planned it was never envisaged that people would be running generators all night. I think we owe it to our ratepayers to review the issue,” Cr Reed said.
Council general manager Michael Coulter said he too had received a complaint about the crowding of the site and boat ramp from a local business operator who runs a water ski school that launches from the boat ramp.
Dave Banks is a member of the Nambucca Valley River Users group (who were instrumental in the Ferry St improvement works) and says that he has noticed campers using the mangroves for their daily ablutions.
People are using the mangroves rather than the toilets because they are too many people or the toilets are too far away from them..
- Dave Banks
And local motel and campground operators are none too happy about the increased levels of non-paying campers in Macksville.
The bypass hasn’t affected us, it’s the free camping we’re worried about,” manager of Nambucca Heads Big4 Sue Carter said.
Nearby residents have reported to Cr Reed that they were not consulted before the area became a designated free camping zone.
Cr John Ainsworth advised against council making any rash decisions lest Macksville be “black-listed” by grey nomads and the town’s tourist economy falters as a result.
Cr Susan Jenvey said that she believes that “van-life or RV-friendly towns” are still reaping the fiscal benefits from free campers.
Mayor Rhonda Hoban suggested that perhaps some effort needs to be made to advertise Gumma Reserve as a preferred camping spot for overnighters.
READ MORE: Macksville to become an RV-friendly town
But Cr Anne Smyth said that at $16 a night even in the off-season, and with no showers, Gumma is not a very attractive alternative for a lot of people.
“I voted against this when it came up last year for the exact reasons we’re dealing with now,” Cr Brian Finlayson said.
“What we’ve got there now is a de facto campground – but campgrounds come with rules you have to adhere to.”
The council then passed a motion to review the current camping situation in consultation with nearby residents and with the Chamber of Commerce.