Campers at Moruya’s Riverside Park. Photos: Region.
One of Moruya’s most popular recreational parks has become an unofficial campground, with dozens of people setting up sites over the summer.
Moruya residents are becoming increasingly concerned by the growing number of people camping at Riverside Park, with Eurobodalla Shire Council saying there is little it can do.
Ironically, the park was once the site of a commercial campground, Moruya Caravan Park, which operated between the Moruya Swimming Pool and Ryan’s Creek Parkland. The caravan park’s lease was not renewed in 2001 due to frequent flooding and safety concerns.
Although people have camped at the park on and off for some time, the number has risen noticeably in recent months. Some have been there for so long that residents know the campers’ cars.
Last week, there were 22 separate campsites, including RVs, motorhomes, rooftop campers, vans, cars and tents.
The campers are believed to be a mix of homeless people and visitors, with many of the campsites being clearly well-set-up travellers.
The number of illegal campers in Riverside Park has risen noticeably in recent months.
Riverside Park is now listed as a free camping ground on Camping Australia’s website.
According to the website entry, the camping ground has toilets and drinking water, and is suitable for both caravans and tents. Facilities include a barbecue, picnic tables and a children’s play facility.
Camping Australia also describes the site as well suited to boaters, with an expansive boat ramp and a screw-fitting water tap, primarily meant for boat washing but convenient for water tank refuelling as well.
Eurobodalla Shire Council is aware of the increased number of campers on the council-managed Crown land where camping is prohibited.
A council spokesperson said that when its rangers identified people staying overnight at council-run no-camping locations, they requested the campers move on.
In areas where illegal camping becomes persistent, rangers will erect warning signs, issue fines and install physical deterrents and lockable gates.
However, there is a limit to how much rangers can police camping at the park.
“Rangers patrol Riverside Park within its resources and priorities during the day, or on request from concerned customers,” the spokesperson said.
The camping continues despite council signs emphasising the practice is banned.
Another complication is that to address driver fatigue, the NSW Government condones overnight camping in a vehicle or caravan.
A Transport for NSW spokesperson said it was not illegal under road transport law to sleep in a vehicle as long as the vehicle was parked in accordance with road rules and parking signage.
“If a driver is tired, it is important that they can stop and rest until it is safe to resume their journey,” the spokesperson said.
Enforcement of rules and regulations is a matter for local councils and NSW Police. Councils can put in place parking rules to discourage people from sleeping in their cars for long periods of time at certain locations.
Drivers should also check whether any other restrictions, including on camping, have been imposed at a location under local government regulations.
Residents are concerned that Riverside Park could become another primitive camping ground for the homeless, similar to the one at Moruya Head North Campground. Residents said police had occasionally been called to Riverside Park in relation to the people camping there and described it as a “no-go zone”.
The council spokesperson said rangers had limited availability to help homeless people on public land, usually referring them to another agency for case management and accommodation assistance, when wanted.
“A new plan of management for Riverside Park is currently being developed and there are no moves to introduce camping,” the spokesperson said.
