Voice of Byron regular, Brian Pollard, noticed the illegal camping up on Byron Bay’s Main Beach is still happening.
Brian says, “I know I’m ‘Flogging a dead horse’ but there are once again 4 or 5 vans of the dreadlocked unwashed at the surf club end of Main beach carpark.
“Rangers and police were dealing with them yesterday afternoon and some fines must have been issued as I heard them say as the police left that they weren’t moving as they had paid rent now.
“This morning they were still there. Dogs, hoola hoops and fire sticks all over the footpath making it hard for people to walk by.
“I know all you bleeding hearts will shout me down but what gives these people the right to disrespect our town & authority.
“People say they add colour to Byron.
“When did we start needing colour to be added?
“Aren’t our beautiful beaches and hinterland enough?”
Somehow we need a cheap alternative to caravan parks, or public parks will be where they camp.
A basic van parking area where there are toilets available, a kitchen sink and pay showers would be worth trying.
They could pay a few bucks each and a ranger could oversee evening and mornings.
Then the police/rangers would have somewhere to move them on, and our parks and streets would have fewer issues.
If we dont make provision for this type of visitor, they will take what they can get – when its a dozen vans we can cope, but the numbers we have these days are impossible. I am sure the word is out that you can van-camp anywhere in Byron.