Charlotte Varcoe
EIGHT camping grounds may be added to the list of free sites following a Grant District Council initiative.
Currently, there are a total of five designated free camping sites and three paid sites within the council area.
Elected members chose the eight camping sites from 23 that were originally proposed.
A Have Your Say campaign will begin in coming days, allowing residents to discuss whether the additional sites should be added to the official list.
A staff report – tabled at the Council’s October general meeting – stated there was an increasing number of sites across the district which continued to be used for free camping with several also advertised on social media platforms.
The report recommended elected members conduct the community consultation regarding the changes which will allow the sites to become official free camping grounds and would “limit camping to appropriate locations” and “enable better regulation” of the sites.
Sites listed within the report include the popular Eight Mile Creek campsite, carparks two and three of Surfers Way Beach, Birdhide, Dry Creek, Blackfellow Caves car park, Allendale East and Orwell Rocks.
Grant District Council Mayor Richard Sage said areas such as the Eight Mile Creek site had always been popular for locals and visitors, and placing the areas on the official list of free camp sites would allow for better maintenance and oversight.
“Some of the sites we listed have been used informally but we are going out to the community and allowing them to have the opportunity to have a say,” Mr Sage said.
“At the end of the day the council makes the decisions as to whether they are included and whether we can oversee the site as well as whether people stick to the rules.”
He said adding the sites onto official free camping areas would also encourage people within the Limestone Coast and tourists to look for new places to visit while also enjoying the natural areas available.
“The biggest changes this decision would make is that people would legally be able to camp there, time frames would be varied in other areas and it would allow us as council to monitor the areas more often,” Mr Sage said.
“People are looking for nature experiences and if we can capture future travellers and put them in a place that is welcoming it will benefit everybody.”
He said for the areas without facilities, visitors would need to provide their own – whether it be within a caravan or hiring portable facilities.
“Eight sites is a significant amount of new sites and although all might not be approved, the public will be able to express their concerns or their support on the areas,” Mr Sage said.
The community consultation will be held from October 20 until November 10 with elected members expected to make the final decision at the November 18 general meeting.
