For many Australian families, camping by the beach is not just a holiday activity; it’s a cherished tradition that spans generations. It’s a time for bonding, for sharing stories under the stars, and for children to experience the same simple joys their parents did. However, this treasured way of life is under threat at Brooms Head, a secluded beach community in New South Wales, where the local council has announced plans to shut down several waterfront campsites that have been a home away from home for countless families.
The Clarence Valley Council’s controversial decision to remove 34 campsites from the picturesque beach, located 130km south of Byron Bay, has sparked a bitter dispute with the camping community. The council’s rationale for the shutdown is to accommodate the rising number of day visitors and to address concerns over the environmental impact of wastewater from campers. They argue that the modern camping experience, with its large 4WDs, RVs, and caravans, has led to the overcrowding of the foreshore and the loss of the ‘simple camping experience’.
The council’s plan to create more open space for visitors is part of a broader vision to ‘return the foreshore to the broader community’. They believe there needs to be a greater balance between the needs of campers and other visitors. However, this vision has been met with fury and disbelief by those who have made Brooms Head their holiday destination for decades.
Ken Shephard, a spokesperson for the Brooms Campers and Caravanners Association, has been camping at Brooms Head with his family for 38 years. He, along with many others, feels blindsided by the council’s lack of consultation and transparency. ‘We’ve had no input, no consultation… it’s just wrong. We can’t get an honest answer,’ Shephard said. He also points out that the local community benefits financially from the campers, who bring in thousands of dollars each year.
The confusion and frustration are further compounded by a 1987 council motion, which stated that camping sites were to be removed once the rights granted to visitors expired. This motion has been cited by the council as justification for the recent removal of 16 sites in 2021 and the proposed removal of an additional 34 sites. However, Shephard and others argue that the motion was not intended for these sites and that a Plan of Management in place for Brooms Head should prevent such changes.
Despite the council’s insistence that their actions are within legal rights and in compliance with legislative requirements, the camping community feels that the council is not honouring the spirit of Brooms Head’s traditions. The council’s decision has even prompted some families to make significant financial investments to comply with new regulations, only to find out that their efforts were in vain as the sites are set to be closed from May this year.
The council’s move has divided opinions, with some supporting the decision to prioritise open space and picnic facilities for day visitors. Yet, for families like Jethro Rockett’s, who have deep emotional ties to Brooms Head, the council’s plan is a devastating blow. ‘Brooms Head is the sole reason I moved my family from the Southern Highlands to the North Coast,’ Rockett shared. ‘It’s where my partner and I first met — it’s where so much of our history is embedded.’
Some people back the council’s decision, with one person commenting, ‘We don’t need caravan parks on the beach. This is the best move in a long time.’
What’s your take on camping traditions and their impact on your family? Have you faced similar challenges with local councils? How do you balance conservation with preserving these traditions? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
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Your article on campsites is familiar as Hervey Bay in Qld is suffering a similar attitude from the FRASER COAST REGIONAL COUNCIL. In fact they did a survey a couple of years ago which I believe was rigged to get the response they wanted. They are doing a massively expensive redevelopment of council owned foreshore caravan parks. They are making larger sites. but cutting down the number of sited and increasing the fees. I believe this increase will stop a lot of long term repeat campers as it is already almost prohibitively expensive. This will then make the parks nonviable and the council will use this to justify doing away with the caravan parks. Voters need to make the council accountable at the next local Gov elections. But we seem to get the same thing from the small number of people willing to stand for election. The Country is stuffed.