Council works to crack down on illegal camping at Crescent Head, residents call for more action

Although council has been working to deter campers from setting up their site at the foreshore carpark, Willow St carpark, Rankine St and at Big Hill carpark, there are still a few who ignore the rules.

Residents of Crescent Head, Gail Ryan and Ken Scotton, said it's a blatant lack of respect of the rules that is an issue for locals.

"We spoke to one of the campers and they said they couldn't care less about the fine," Ken said.

"Even if they are booked, it's not an on the spot fine, it's posted to them and they don't seem to care about it."

In response to the ongoing issue, council said Rangers have been out in force throughout summer conducting patrols prior to and throughout the holiday period.

The primary focus for the patrols in that time has been illegal camping and vehicle usage on beaches.

The Ranger Team issued just under 200 Infringement notices for illegal camping and parking-related matters between Christmas and Australia Day across all of the beachside communities in the Macleay.

Council Rangers have also conducted joint patrols with Rangers from National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) for vehicle-related compliance on our beaches up and down the Macleay coast.

In addition, approximately 30 infringement notices were issued for non-compliance with the Beach Permit system through joint patrols conducted with NPWS Rangers.

Council's Director Operations and Planning, Robert Fish, said the hard work of rangers often goes unseen due to the rules they are enforcing.

"The majority of the public do not see council's Rangers conducting illegal camping patrols as they are generally conducted in the early hours of the morning, between midnight and 5am when the rules are in effect," he said.

"Unfortunately, council Rangers do not have the authority to 'move people on', or physically stop someone from camping or staying overnight in their vehicle. Still, Rangers have and will continue to patrol our beachside areas and will continue to discourage illegal camping, through the issuing of Penalty Infringement Notices."

Hundreds of holidaymakers bring an economic boost to Kempsey Shire's coastal towns during the summer months and Gail said locals welcome tourists who visit Crescent Head and follow the rules.

"We own a caravan and aren't anti-campers, but we pay. A lot of locals aren't anti-tourists, it's just that a lot of the town's visitors don't respect the rules," she said.

"We do really need a police station in the town, at least during summer when it's really busy because people just don't follow the rules."

Council said it will continue to patrol areas where illegal camping is an issue and as part of a deterrent, signage has been erected at all road entrances to Crescent Head, making it illegal for anyone to 'stay overnight' in any streets or reserves, including in any vehicle.

These signs will soon be put in place at the entrances to all coastal villages across the shire, in order to assist in combating illegal camping in other areas of the Macleay.