Victorian Coalition announce landholders to get final say on riverside camping sites

In the lead up to the state election, the Opposition have confirmed their stance on who can camp on crown land river frontages.

Keiwa Valley dairy farmer Stuart Crothwaite has no hope of implementing his biosecurity plan, after the Andrews Government opened up his water frontages to campers Picture: Simon Dallinger

LANDHOLDERS will be given the final say over who can camp on river frontages adjoining their land, if the Liberal-Nationals are elected to govern Victoria on November 26.

Victorian Liberal Leader Matthew Guy said the existing riverside camping regulations were not acceptable and were a threat to farm biosecurity, given most farmers held grazing licences over these water frontages.

“We need to strike a balance between access to public space and the potential threat to our livestock industry,” Mr Guy said.

“This policy provides better protection of waterways and land as well as protections for licence holders, their stock and property.”

The Opposition policy sits in stark contrast to the Labor Government’s rush to deliver on its 2018 election promise to open up as much of Victoria’s 17,000km of waterway frontages to campers as possible.

However, landholder and environment groups’ anger over the potential damage to riverside vegetation, campfire and biosecurity risks led the government to last year back down on a camping free for all and instead conduct site by site assessments.

Since then Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning staff have been working overtime to first identify suitable sites and then get out to assess them, registering 69 camping zones to date.

However the Coalition has promised to reassess all sites if elected, especially when DELWP has rushed to select sites near existing public campgrounds.

Kiewa Valley dairy farmer Stuart Crothwaite was stunned to learn DELWP had selected three sites on his farm’s water frontages, when the adjoining Boyds Bridge Reserve was already available to campers.

“I have a biosecurity plan, but have no hope of implementing it when I don’t know whose coming onto my farm,” Mr Crothwaite said. “(And) am I liable for people who I don’t know.”

Opposition fishing and boating spokesman Bill Tilley said landholders are understandably worried and despite repeated requests they remained uneasy about the threat of being sued.

DELWP has refused to answer questions on who is responsible if campers are injured on water frontages, simply stating it recommends farmers with grazing licences over water frontages “secure public liability insurance”.