Generational holiday campers slam council’s move to shut down Brooms Head campsites
Generational holiday campers at a popular northern NSW seaside camping spot have slammed a council’s “woke” and “unethical” decision to cease foreshore site bookings.
Lismore
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Generational holiday campers at a popular northern NSW seaside camping spot have slammed a council’s “woke” and ‘unethical’ decision to cease foreshore site bookings.
The crown-owned land at Brooms Head on the state’s North Coast – managed by Clarence Valley Council – has for decades been a hotspot for local families and tourists.
Hundreds flock to the premium beachfront site to celebrate Christmas and New Year’s celebrations.
Now they are fighting to keep their campsites, and traditions alive.
The campers are claiming council’s actions to remove the sites violate existing agreements and were made without proper consultation with traditional owners or the community.
“Brooms Head is the sole reason I moved my family from the Southern Highlands to the North Coast,” generational camper Jethro Rockett said.
“It’s where my partner and I first met – it’s where so much of our history is embedded.”
Clarence Valley Council insists they are fulfilling an overdue agreement to phase out foreshore camping, emphasising the need for more public space and improved facilities for day visitors.
Council maintains proper consultation has occurred and their decision is legally sound.
Campers are furious at being booted “on the sly” after a series of claimed random emails and letters in mid-December told them their sites would no longer be available to book from May.
“Some of us got letters, some an email, not all of us, my parents still haven’t even got an email … saying they’ll no longer be able to book their site from May 7 in certain sections of the site, Mr Rockett said.
He claimed despite council announcing the traditional camping sites would be removed, at no stage did they materialise.
The foreshore campsites were created as a result of a 1987 agreement with Maclean Shire Council to allow 16 foreshore campsites to be used throughout the Christmas holiday period, subject to conditions these existing rights do not pass on to any other person or member of the family.
“I’m been coming here for 35 years, and we’ve found out (legally) the park is operating under the 1995 plan of management.
“These emails seem to be a breach of that, until a new plan of management is actually approved, exhibited, and debated, these changes should not be happening,” Mr Rockett said.
He claimed council was legally obligated to run the park at a certain capacity under the plan but continued to “pull sites out”.
It comes off the back of council conditions sent to section B waterfront campers in April last year telling them their sites were to be for camper trailers and tents only – no caravans allowed.
Council stated this was due to “many complaints” about overcrowding, wastewater disposal and large vehicles encroaching on public access to the much-loved beach and foreshore areas.
Frustrated locals say “90 per cent” of campers wanting to keep their site sold or purchased additional equipment to comply, incurring significant costs.
An angry camper, who asked not to be named, said he spent “thousands” upgrading his caravan – “all in vain”. He believes council should “compensate us all”.
A community meeting was held on January 2 to address the outcry and attending traditional owners offered their “full support” of the park.
Clarence Valley Council general manager Laura Black and several councillors cited the 1987 council motion as the reason for closing the sites, stating no community consultation was required.
Yet a Brooms Head Camping Association spokesman (BHCA) said the original 1987 motion only applied to 16 specific sites, not the 34 in question and claim the 1995 plan of management (PoM) supersedes the 1987 motion, rendering it outdated.
“Section 40 of the Local Government Act requires public consultation for changes like this, which the general manager’s statement ignored,” he said.
He also claimed council snubbed another legal requirement by failing to consult the Yaegl Traditional Custodians.
“The removal of these 34 sites breaches the 1995 PoM and the Crown Lands Act,” he said.
“This decision represents a significant alteration of the park’s structure, impacting 45 per cent of unpowered sites and 18 per cent of all short-term sites.”
Ms Black said council was fulfilling the “overdue” 1987 Maclean Shire Council agreement to phase out foreshore camping sites and the transitioning of the campsites was in full council compliance with legislative requirements under their approval to operate the site.
Furthermore, she said the community desires more open space and picnic facilities for day visitors that aligns with the original intent of Maclean Shire Council and supporting existing draft plans of management.
She said the phasing out of foreshore sites has been communicated between council and the BHCA since 2020.
Council stated concerns about consultation were unfounded and said the draft plan of management had met its legal requirements, with further public comment opportunities to follow.
Ms Black said council’s decision will not prevent long-time campers from using other sites within the park.
“While the community is in favour of more open space and picnic areas along the foreshore, no plans have been formalised with the exception that the area will not be returned to camping, or made into cabin sites.”
She said council will consult the community on future site plans to benefit both campers and day visitors.
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