Crown land water frontages about to be opened up to campers
A Bill before the Victorian Upper House allowing camping on licensed water frontages is being welcomed by hunters, anglers and other recreational users — but farmers are vehemently opposed. Tell us what you think.
ALMOST 26,000 kilometres of Victoria’s crown land water frontages, most of which are licensed to adjoining landholders, is about to be opened up to campers.
Legislation before the Victorian Parliament’s Upper House amends the Land Act 1958 to “remove the prohibition on camping on licensed water frontages”, which range from a 20-metre strip either side of a waterway, to several hundred metres from the water’s edge.
“We’re making access to crown land easier for those who want to fish and camp at some of Victoria’s best rivers,” a Government spokesman said.
Hunters, anglers and other recreational users have welcomed the move, but the Victorian Farmers Federation is concerned it will lead to conflicts over stock disturbance, litter, waterway pollution and the risk of camp fires escaping on to their land.
“Regaining community access to our rivers and streams will be a game changer for inland fishing across Victoria, from targeting our much-loved brown and rainbow trout to our iconic Murray cod,” VRFish chair Rob Loats said.
“Fishers have been missing out on the enjoyment of fishing along hundreds of kilometres of our rivers because of a systemic misunderstanding of public access requirements.
But the VFF is vehemently opposed to the Government allowing camping on licenced water frontages.
“Farmers pay for these licences and manage this land. Camping poses too greater risk of fire, littering and trespass,” VFF land management chair Gerry Leach said.
He said it would be farmers who had deal with campers’ illegal acts on their land, such as cutting up trees and camp fires getting away.
“The Government needs to talk to farmers who hold crown licences in developing these regulations, because they are the ones who have to put out untended camp fires, pick up rubbish and deal with people driving across their land to access water frontages.”
The Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning and the Victorian Fisheries Authority started notifying stakeholders last week that it would soon begin consultations on drafting the regulations to deal with the impact of dispersed camping and other recreational activities along waterways.
The Land Act 1958 already enshrines the public’s right of access to licenced water frontages and demands a “licensee shall erect and maintain a suitable means of pedestrian access through any fence on, or around, the water frontage”.
But the reality is many landholders have neglected to provide access, while some have even padlocked gates and torn down river access signs.
The Victorian Fisheries Authority is pushing ahead with plans to open up at least 50 water frontages where public access is restricted along the Loddon, Campaspe, Goulburn, Ovens and Steavenson Rivers.
According to the VFA, these 50 sites are regarded as prime fishing spots.
But the move is already leading to conflicts with landowners.
At Murchison East one landholder has put “Trespasses will be prosecuted” and “Private Keep Out” signs on a gate leading into his licenced water frontage, which is adjacent to a Government sign detailing the public’s right of access to the area.
The issue is also set to fracture the Opposition’s Coalition partners, as they struggle to balance the demands of farmers and recreational users.
EDITORIAL: BALANCE A MUST FOR CAMPING
Opposition Environment spokeswoman Bridget Vallence said the Coalition had not opposed the Parks and Crown Land Legislation Amendment Bill 2019 when it passed through the Lower House last November.
But now that it was before the Upper House she said the Opposition partners had “reserved their position”.
“We will make sure there is adequate consultation with the VFF and local MPs, who are responsible for these areas,” Ms Vallence said.
The Bill allows for the drafting of regulations to make it an offence to leave campfires or barbecues unattended on water frontages, that there is a cleared area surrounding them and no damage occurs to surrounding vegetation.
Sporting Shooters Association of Australia (Victoria) Hunting development manager David Laird welcomed the move, given the opportunity it created for dispersed camping along waterways, especially for duck hunters.
But Mr Laird said that while hunters may be able to camp on waterways, they faced major restrictions on where they could shoot, under their licence conditions.
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