JUNGLE DRUM: 'I won't be running for Council in 2024': Lawrence Mason
COLUMN
Far North illegal camping debate - What are the options?
Every year hordes of ‘vanlife’ folks descend on the Far North and while some do camp legally, lots don’t.
They stay in private carparks, National Park carparks, at beaches, in laybys along the road, and in fact anywhere you can pull over. In towns, especially beachside ones like Port Douglas, they are often a problem along esplanades.
It isn’t for me to pass judgement on their lifestyles. Truth be told I am bit jealous. What an amazing low-cost way of life! Where they congregate, often on private land where owners or caretakers don’t mind, they play music and have fun. Looks a bit idyllic to me.
But there is a downside, especially for small communities. Often, where these ‘in touch with nature’, ‘woke’, ‘I love Mother Earth’ types have been there tends to be rubbish and excrement.
One of their tricks is to throw the waste under the van, where it is invisible, until they leave of course. Not far from that there will be piles of colourful toilet paper, or, increasingly, non-biodegradable wipes. And so many of them smoke, with the corresponding butts left, too.
Not only that but the parties sometimes get noisy and out of hand. Not all of us of enjoy two days of doof. Or the flattening of half an acre of rare type 2b rainforest by said doofers. Or the wandering spun out ones who tie up valuable ambulance time.
The result is that locals often get mad. I have heard of a trend called ‘Honk a Hippie’ which involves early morning workers giving them a wakeup roadside. In my business we have had to install mobile signage, and are soon to put up gates at night. Even with the budget ‘Green Camp’ not 200 metres up the road.
I am all about solutions. Can we cater to these people who are after all just having fun?
The nearest free camp is at Mt Molloy, a bit far away. Perhaps DSC should be looking at a free (or nominal fee) camp either north of the river or on old cane land just to the south?
And couple that with more regular patrols and severe penalties. It would not be a competitor for full service grounds, just toilets and bins.
But we can’t ignore what is actually a part of our tourism mix, or we are destined to repeat current problems over and over. To the detriment of community and rainforest.
Standing for Council
I have been asked often if this column is about me making a run for Council.
(The) reality is that Newsport Editor Michael Warren asked me to do a column and I accepted because I felt that I had something worthwhile to contribute.
Those who know me well understand that in 2016 was a pivotal point in my life and I decided at that point to see my daughter through to Year 12 and her chosen career.
I can’t do that and give my all to a councillor role so I can say with certainty that I will not be standing this time, and that if I do in the future, I won’t be using community-based articles like this to promote myself.
*Lawrence Mason has lived at Cape Tribulation all his life, and has been involved in farming, timber and tourism. He is a former board member of Tourism Port Douglas Daintree, founding Chair of Daintree Marketing Co-operative, and has been a member of both Alexandra Bay and Mossman State High School P&C. He is also a member of the Douglas Chamber of Commerce and has a keen interest in local issues.
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