Council closes carpark to campers

Cobar Shire Council’s general manager Peter Vlatko made a decision last week to close the council car park (behind the council building) to caravan campers.

Temporary fencing was erected in the carpark last Thursday with signs reading ‘No camping on this site. Due to the inappropriate actions of previous caravanners this site is no longer available for use.’

The back of the council carpark (off Lewis Street) has unofficially been a parking spot for free campers passing through town for some time.

Mr Vlatko said council had, up until now, tolerated caravanners and campers parking there.

“It’s a carpark and not a camping ground,” Mr Vlatko told The Cobar Weekly.

“It had started being abused by the number of caravans that were parking there, in terms of they were cramming in next to each other and it became a risk factor.

“There had also been some inappropriate behavior and, so on that basis, I had no choice but to shut it down,” he said.

According to NSW Planning, councils are encouraged to be proactive in preventing illegal camping.

The reasons for this include: if inadequate facilities are provided or the standard of operation is unsatisfactory, the health and safety of campers will not be assured. This may be especially so in relation to fire safety.

NSW Planning advises the use of an illegal caravan park or camping ground may cause disturbance to adjoining land users. This disturbance may be associated with noise, scattering of rubbish, or inadequate toilet facilities or provision for greywater disposal.

Mr Vlatko said in addition to council staff using the carpark, the area is also used by trucks making deliveries to the adjacent supermarket.

He said the increasing number of caravans parking in the carpark was making it difficult for the trucks to get in and out.

Mr Vlatko said it was the overcrowding, that council could not control, that was the main reason for the closure to campers.

He said Cobar has a wonderful caravan park which they can use, they can park at the Cobar sign and also at other rest stops.

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