Aussie tourist hotspots plagued by illegal camping act

The "entitled" behaviour is on the rise, but there's a simple action you can take in less than a minute to combat it.

Exploring Australia's endless, idyllic coastlines and vast open roads is a dream for many Aussies and tourists alike. 

 

However, as many attempt to do it on a shoestring budget and disregard camping regulations, local councils are faced with the challenge of managing this growing problem.

The Town of Cambridge council in Perth faced this challenge earlier this week when they tried to discourage illegal camping at one of Western Australia's most popular beaches by shutting off the hot water in their public showers.

Want to join the family? Sign up to our Kidspot newsletter for more stories like this. 

Image: Noosa Council/Sunshine Coast News

RELATED: ALDI’s ultra-cheap advent calendars are back

"A significant issue across the country"

Recent data provided to Yahoo by the nationwide council reporting app Snap Send Solve has shown that there have been thousands of reports of illegally parked RVs and caravans across Australia.

CEO Danny Gorog said that these figures highlight a significant issue across the country, especially in urban areas where space is limited and pedestrian and road safety are "critical."

Introducing our new podcast: Mum Club! Listen and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts so you never miss an episode.

Victoria leads the count with 2,936 instances of illegally parked RVs and caravans, closely followed by NSW and Queensland.

"Our users tell us illegally parked RVs and caravans are causing several safety issues and obstruct visibility for drivers and make intersections and pedestrian crossings more dangerous," Gorog told Yahoo, stating that these vehicles occupy "more than their fair share" of parking spaces and prohibit access to essential services like fire hydrants.

"By parking in non-designated areas, RVs also strain local councils, which need to enforce parking laws and address complaints," he added.

"Ensuring proper regulations and designated parking is essential to maintain road safety and community order."

He urges people to use the free Snap Send Solve app to report illegally parked RVS in under one minute.

RELATED: Aussie woman’s vent about camping etiquette

Illegal camping by state

• Victoria: 2,936 reports

• New South Wales 2,048 reports

• Queensland 1,610 reports

• Western Australia 636 reports

• South Australia 136 reports

• Tasmania 34 reports

Originally published as Aussie tourist hotspots plagued by illegal camping act