BACKPACKERS – ARE THEY TO BLAME FOR FREE CAMP SHUT DOWNS?

It’s no secret: councils, travellers and industry experts all label backpackers and van packers as a major problem, but do they deserve the flak? As Chairperson of the CMCA, Garry Lee is no stranger to the good, the bad and the ugly side of travellers: “We have trouble with hire campers that aren’t self-contained vehicles,” he says. “They are driven by tourists who tend to leave their rubbish and tell-tale signs behind.”

I’m not saying backpackers are the sole reason free camps get shut down, nor am I saying they are the only ones that leave rubbish and what-not about in our camps. That said, I reckon they show a lot less respect to those things we are privileged to have access to. It’s always the 10% that ruin it for the rest of us, and I wouldn’t be surprised if the majority of that 10% were in hire campers!

Let me know your opinion on the issue – [email protected]

Cheers,
Fred