River camping rally: Farmers call for lax rules to be wound back

Victorian farmers are preparing to confront politicians on the steps of State Parliament.

Farmers fear opening up 17,000km of Victoria’s river banks to campers will damage vegetation and pose major liability and fire risks.

The call has gone out for farmers to rally at 10.30am on the steps of Parliament this coming Tuesday (May 25) to demand the Andrews Government wind back regulations opening up 17,000km of Victoria’s river frontages to public camping.

Mitta, King, Kiewa and Tallangatta valley farmers from Victoria’s North East are calling on others to organise buses or cars to get down to Melbourne and join them in a bid to stop a free for all they say puts campers, farmers and livestock at risk.

Most of the 17,000km of water frontages are unfenced and already held by neighbouring farmers under 8287 crown land grazing licences, which make them liable for what happens if livestock injure the public.

Mitta Valley farmer and organiser Judy Cardwell said one of the big questions was liability and how the Government intended to control free camping across such a vast network or rivers and creeks.

The Victorian Farmers Federation, which is helping organise the rally, has warned farmers fear they will be left to try and police campers, prevent damage to riverside vegetation, deal with unattended camp fires and try and stop people or their dogs wandering onto their properties.

Ms Cardwell urged farmers to get involved in the rally before the draft camping regulations became law, calling on them to bring placards, swags, bags of rubbish and piles of wood to the steps of Parliament to give Spring Street politicians a taste of what would happen if thousands of Victorians were allowed to camp on water frontages.

Under draft regulations released for public comment in March, the public will have the right to pitch a tent or build a camp fire to within 20 metres of waterways for up to 28 nights, and dig bush toilets 50m away.

Environment groups and traditional owners, who have expressed concerns over the impact of camping on remnant riverside vegetation and cultural sites, are being encouraged to join the rally, which is timed to coincide with both houses of Parliament sitting.

Farmers can register for the rally by emailing their details to [e-mail]

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