Farmer dismay as new laws allowing camping on crown land water frontages passed
Victorian Parliament’s Upper House has passed amendments to the Land Act, allowing camping on water frontages that are licensed to farmers, including for grazing.
FARMERS have lost their battle to prevent the Andrews Labor Government from opening up large parts of almost 26,000 kilometres of crown land water frontages to camping.
Labor managed to rally the number of Upper House crossbench MPs it needed last night to vote in favour of amendments to the Land Act 1958, which allow any member of the public to set up tents and campfires on up to 8287 crown-land water frontages that are licensed to adjoining farmers and other landholders.
Victorian Farmers Federation Land Management Council chairman Gerald Leach said his reaction was one of “dismay and disappointment at the lack of understanding” from politicians on what it means for landholders.
Greens, and Sustainable Australia MPs joined the Coalition Opposition in declaring their opposition to the bill during the Upper House debate on the bill, highlighting the risk of campfires escaping into the bush and human waste contaminating waterways, as well as farmers being left to clean up the rubbish left behind.
During the debate in the Upper House, crossbenchers who backed the Government’s bill included Transport Matters MP Rob Barton, Shooters, Fishers and Farmers MP Jeff Bourman and Liberal Democrat Tim Quilty.
Coalition Upper House Leader David Davis tried, but failed in bids to have the Parks and Crown Land Legislation Amendment Bill referred to a Parliamentary inquiry as well as amended to grant farmers power of veto over camping on licensed water frontages.
However the Government did make some minor last minute concessions, deferring the date for the introduction of camping on water frontages until September next year and prohibiting camping within 20m of a waterway or in revegetated areas (although this last point needs clarification).
Mr Leach said the next step was trying to ensure the regulations, drafted in the wake of the Bill being enacted, dealt with farmers’ concerns by:
REQUIRING all campers to be registered.
LIMITING camping to areas where there are toilets and waste facilities and
MAINTAINING setbacks from waterways and private land.
MORE
FARMERS BATTLE TO STOP RIVER-FRONTAGE CAMPING
‘No one knew it was coming’: Tongala cow abattoir shuts
The livestock industry and local community have reacted to Greenham’s closure of its Tongala cow processing plant.
Victorians want to feel guilt-free about eating meat
Research – to guide a Victorian Government-funded pro-agriculture campaign – has revealed how consumers feel about the state’s farmers and what issues need to be addressed.