City of Coffs Harbour continues to be proactive in tackling illegal camping at the Jetty Foreshores for land the City manages.
Illegal free campers have created a pinch point at the Foreshores, which is exacerbated over the summer holidays.
In response, the City has increased patrols for illegal camping on City-managed land at the Jetty Foreshores providing verbal warnings and handing out warning notices, and issuing fines where illegal campers have not complied.
The land used by illegal free campers is in large part managed by State Government agency Property and Development NSW, which means City rangers have no jurisdiction to move people on.
“It’s a perennial issue, and one faced by many coastal communities, but the City has been constrained as the illegal camping at the Jetty Foreshores has been taking place primarily on state-owned land,” City of Coffs Harbour Mayor Cr Paul Amos said.
Council rangers have been active despite the limitations – handing out 80 warning notices to campers/vehicles on City-managed land at the foreshores just before Christmas.
On City-managed land, rangers gave out 30 verbal and 14 formal warning notices over the Christmas-New Year period, and 15 fines were issued.
City of Coffs Harbour’s Acting General Manager Andrew Beswick said rangers will continue to actively patrol the City-managed land – including over the weekend – and issue fines where appropriate.
It’s understood Property and Development NSW is assessing signage and fencing options on the land it manages at the Jetty.
