Your say: camping crackdown, construction costs and more

Do you have an opinion to share? Submit a Letter to the Editor at Sunshine Coast News via: news@sunshinecoastnews.com.au. You must include your name and suburb.

The issue of building industry costs and management also attracted attention, while Ashley Robinson’s column about the mandatory police retirement age seemed to strike a chord.

Here are some of the latest letters to the editor.

Industry overhaul required

Read the article: Not again: apartment project’s second builder collapses

Forty years in the commercial building, and successful I might add. Interest rates from 10 per cent to a peak of 19.5 per cent. Materials were pre-ordered and paid when the contract was signed, in a time when costings were done by your estimator, not a computer.

It doesn’t work today for a number of reasons. First and without question is finance. A security of 10 per cent of cost should be lodged in a fund to protect the sub-contractors. After all, they are the builders, not the university-educated project managers.

The building industry requires a complete overhaul with a chairman and committee made up of retired hands-on type builders and a break from self-confessed experts who have never set out a foundation.

Jeff Rumble (March 8)

Too many handouts

Read the article: Ashley Robinson: the very thin blue line

I agree with Ashley Robinson’s views on the thin blue line. It came as a surprise to me that policemen and women have to retire at 60. It’s a waste of resources and knowledge.

I am 76 years of age and working full-time with Queensland Health at Sunshine Coast University Hospital in the capacity of patient assist supervisor. I have no intentions of giving up my job and find Queensland Health very supportive of me.

Staff shortages are across the board and it appears the older members of the community (baby boomers if you will) are keeping the ship afloat.

There are too many free government handouts around so the younger generation don’t really need to work if they are living in the hotel of mum and dad.

Ian Tonkin, Buderim (March 9)

Read the article: ‘Growing impatience’: illegal camping crackdown

I live at Cooroibah in the Noosa Shire. My wife and I walk most mornings at 4am. We walk Main Beach boardwalk at this hour to avoid crowds. We have lived in the shire for 45 years but in the last couple of years the illegal camping has become an issue. After our walk we go to the river mouth for a coffee while the sun rises. Of late we are lucky to get a car park because of the mobile homes staying overnight.

I have approached the council on several occasions without any results. At first I was told they had no staff to police the signage, then they had no legal power to enforce illegal parking without police assistance. I was also informed on occasion the council officers had been assaulted, which I have not witnessed.

I have witnessed the council officers arriving at 6.30am, which is too late to catch the culprits.

William McKinnon, Cooroibah (March 7)

Stop wasting time

Councils need to be a little realistic and understand the world we are living in the moment.  Just so you know, I am a resident not a person illegally camping.

Unfortunately we have a situation where there are no places available in our caravan parks at the moment and we have people who are also homeless. Where do you expect them to live? If they have a van, lucky them, but some are also in their cars. Issue them a fine they can’t afford to pay.

Yes, they shouldn’t leave a mess behind I agree but they need to sleep somewhere, don’t they. Wake up government and start doing your jobs properly and don’t send your local laws officers out to waste everyone’s time.

Sean Sommer, Mount Coolum (March 7)

Desperate need

As we all know, the biggest issue everywhere on the Sunshine Coast is the desperate need for social housing. Due to decades of neglect, the need for social housing is now in utmost crisis. Those who are sleeping in cars and tents at the beach, especially families with children, naturally choose somewhere where kiddies can stretch their legs, play on the sand and benefit from fresh air. Others who are forced into homelessness may feel that a swag on the beach is safer and more comfortable than sleeping on a hard park bench in town.

Certainly, there are a variety of issues to be dealt with when a rising number of people are sleeping rough in a tourist area. Councils could employ security personnel as health and safety officers. However, fines cannot change a social crisis but only add to it. Governments, at all levels, must take responsibility for this crisis: the majority of funding should be spent on social housing, not on housing that will attract more people into the area.

Christine Bennett, Burnside (March 7)

Persisting problem

Oh dear, homelessness is all around. Bear in mind there goes us except by the grace. No easy solution and if no solution it will be here and everywhere to stay.

Debbie Macquarie, Scarborough (March 7)

Housing luxury

Councils need to adopt a better approach. Rent is greater than the minimum wage.  Housing has become a luxury for the rich. Councils need to allow overnight camping in vehicles at carparks next to public toilets, even if they have to be gone by 7am or 8 am, to allow day users to park up.

It doesn’t matter what laws councils make against overnight stays in vehicles on the streets and carparks, this issue will remain because people don’t earn enough money to pay rent.

Peter Dunlop, Nambour (March 7)

Lost faith

I’m a Coolum resident and used to enjoy going to Stumers Creek, which I no longer do due to the rising number of transients being parked overnight. I think it’s appalling that the powers that be are sitting on their hands and not moving these grubs on. They’re doing drugs in their cars and I was physically assaulted by speaking up.

Very poor effort, QPS and Sunshine Coast Council. I’ve lost faith in the system.

Jason Ashby, Coolum (March 7)

Costs going up

I’m sorry but if people aren’t able to get a rental anywhere, what are we supposed to do?

I’ve been on the street in my car and checked RV and caravan parks, they are putting up prices too. It’s the same cost as a studio or hotel for one night. There’s not enough homes.

Why can’t empty shops be leased like a shelter? It’s income for the owner and a safe place for the homeless.

Or what about lock-up carparks with a gate? They could make you need to register at the Department of Housing and get a ticket allowing you to sleep in the car in a locked-up place with security, so no drugs or drinking – if so you’re escorted out.

Deann Teunon, Maroochydore (March 8)

Forced out

Possible solution

I saw the article on the crackdown on illegal campers at Noosa. I’m over in Fremantle and we have the same problem. Currently there’s a similar crackdown at South Beach.

We have recently returned from an interstate trip, where we came across a fantastic idea in Kingston, South Australia. The council there has created an RV park adjacent to the beach, which is accessible by ticket vending machine for up to six nights at $10 per night, minimum two nights. It is next to a public park with toilets and a beach shower, and also has ample rubbish and recycling bins, access to a dump point and a potable water tap for refilling caravans and water tanks. There’s even a tiny street library in the park and some tourist information.

This RV park is available for up to about 80 camper trailers, campervans or caravans, also saw some 4x4s with roof tents (no on-ground tents for safety reasons). The ticket is displayed on the dash, and a ranger checks in the morning that everyone is compliant. Works like a dream.

There is also a completely booked out caravan park in town, so there does not seem to be a problem with competition. It serves a different crowd.

Provision of an RV park serves a couple of purposes. It creates an RV-friendly town, not just because of the warm and fuzzies, but your town continues to benefit economically from the tourism. It also gives genuine tourists a place to stay for a few days at a budget price. Not everyone can afford to stay in caravan parks, some of them are charging up to $90 per night at high season. Even the well-heeled will find that a stretch if they’re on a six-month round-the-country trip.

It also generates a little income (or at least recuperates the operating cost) for the council. It keeps your residents much happier than having to fight for a park at their own beach, as well as dealing with poor behaviour littering and lack of proper ablutions.

I have suggested this facility to be developed by my own council, as it would ease the frustration of residents having to tolerate illegal camping on the beachfront. I believe that these types of RV facilities are actually quite common but this was the only one we saw on our trip. We stayed at it for a night or so and found it a perfect solution to the alternatives. As a member of a huge and active Facebook group Van Life, we frequently read comments about the very restrictive laws in Queensland regarding sleeping in cars or vans. Perhaps the RV park approach might address this.

My own view is that travellers should not expect to simply camp for free anywhere they like. But I also don’t think many campers would object to paying $10 a night, they clearly value the place in which they have chosen to stay. Many simply cannot afford caravan park fees every night, especially the younger traveller, maybe from overseas.

For others like me, I’m a totally self-contained campervanner, I just need a 6mx3m patch of ground. The RV park does it for me.

Ros Barnes, Fremantle (March 7)

National problem

I am from southwest Western Australia. We have similar problem here on our beaches. All beachside properties have been bought by wealthy city people, rentals have become Airbnb, caravan parks where cheap rent was available have all been subdivided, the ones left are expensive.

We have thousands of backpackers van camping, mostly surfers from overseas and the eastern states. There’s plenty of work available but they don’t apply, they surf all day and when winter arrives they all move to our northwest surf locations. The local councils don’t accommodate them in specified areas, such as sport grounds, so they trash the beach environment with garbage and toilet usage.

Anthony Jones, Margaret River, WA (March 7)

Lack of compassion

People are becoming homeless, where do you expect them to be? This is the council’s fault for not having an area for homeless people and families. The poor will eat the rich because of no compassion.

Living in Queensland or any other state is now impossible and if you think handing out fines to people who only get $600 a fortnight to live on will work, you’re wrong. Crime will follow just to pay the fine.

I don’t even live in Queensland and I’m not homeless, nor am I poor, but my heart breaks when I read about how Noosa Council would make people’s life hard, and I guess the people living in Noosa just don’t understand until they’re on the street.

David Randle, Glen Huon, Tasmania (March 7)

Move applauded

Illegal parking at truck stopovers, parks and beaches is a no-no as they dump rubbish, empty their toilets – you name it. The van parks closed because they don’t get used, so it’s good to see the crackdown.

Jenny Duthie, Hervey Bay (March 7)

Lacking empathy

These are mostly homeless people living out of their vehicles. Have a heart!

Think yourself lucky you have a roof over your head. Shame on you.

Keith Davis, Shoalhaven, NSW (March 8)

Little availability

Just a note on overnight camping. I tried to book a couple of nights in a caravan park in the area but websites indicate no availability as it is holiday season. So I jump a year ahead and try to book for Easter or Christmas time again, but still nothing.

This is very frustrating. Create more caravan parks please and get the prices down. This would be a start if they don’t want people camping in the streets.

George McKee, Middle Park (March 10)

Hung out to dry

The problem begins with the state government abandoning its social housing obligations so you have a cohort of older people forced to live out of vehicles, many with health issues that prevent them working. Remember, OH&S is a relatively new concept. Social housing has a waiting line of over 10 years if you are a male, what does that tell you. They say “there’s something out there you can do, you just have to find it” but ageism is rife, especially if you physical health is suspect – I know, I’m one of them.

We’ve been hung out to dry by successive governments, trapped on JobSeeker payments that aren’t enough to cover even the cheapest of rents and pay your immediate living expenses, that is why there are so many “grey nomads”, as they choose to call us. We have to eat s— to pay for the lifestyles of the “baby boomers”, many of whom had a economic dream run with super and property values and employment permanency. What have we got now? Generation X are the ones being forced to pay for them.

Gregory Morgan-Taylor, Redcliffe (March 8)

‘Outrageous’ fees

If Noosa was to provide cheap or, dare I say, free camping sites, as many other councils and shires do, then there would be no need for campers to illegally camp in streets overnight. But unfortunately most councils are held to ransom by local caravan parks who in particularly well-visited tourist areas can charge outrageous fees. Unpowered sites can be as high as $50-plus per night, and sites with water and power are even higher.

I have been travelling as a grey nomad for a number of years now and have had many run-ins with local laws officers. Some are very good but others are not interested in helping you find other places to camp, they just want you out of their jurisdiction. I have now resorted to living in cheap caravan parks because as a pensioner I can claim rent assistance as part of my pension.

Peter Williams, Yarram, Victoria (March 8)

Do you have an opinion to share? Submit a Letter to the Editor at Sunshine Coast News via: news@sunshinecoastnews.com.au. You must include your name and suburb.