Not Happy Campers
Farmers’ concern that new Victorian Legislation would enable squatters, rubbish dumping, fires and human faecal contamination on their land, has turned from fear into reality.
Member for Western Victoria, Bev McArthur, warned the Government of the serious concerns during November’s parliamentary debate on the Parks and Crown Land Amendment Bill 2019.
The Bill allowed for people to access river front crown land licensed by a farmer or landowner for camping.
Mrs McArthur has asked the Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change to redraft the Regulated Watercourse Land Regulations - released this week - so that camping is only allowed with the express permission of the farmer or landowner who leases the crown river frontage land.
“Given that licensed waterfrontages are often in extremely remote rural communities, how will the regulations be enforced?” Mrs McArthur asked the Minister.
“With no permission required, individuals can camp on farmers’ licensed land without their knowledge.”
If regulations are breached, hard-to find culprits will make legal remedy difficult.
Mrs McArthur said biosecurity regulations are grossly under-addressed, exposing livestock and land to potential disease via contaminated footwear, equipment, vehicles and unauthorised persons.
“In November, I said camping would lead to human waste, due to the obvious lack of toilet facilities and rubbish being left behind on the land. Well, how right I was.
“These regulations now propose that campers will be allowed to bury their faeces 50 metres from the water.
“Never mind the water, though, what about ending up next to a house, livestock, where children play or where animals graze?” she asked.
She argued the regulations enabling campfires on cultivated land is less dangerous than on uncultivated vegetation. Farmers will also be exposed to campfires not being extinguished properly.
“Perhaps the most outrageous regulation of all in the draft regulations is the proposal to allow campers to stay overnight for a total of 28 consecutive days. This is effectively squatting.
“Farmers should not be forced into accommodating strangers who are burying their waste, lighting fires and collecting firewood for an entire month”.
Mrs McArthur said the regulations are ‘unacceptable and dangerous’ and is urging people to provide their feedback to the Government.
5 March 2021