Council responds after campers called out for illegal beach set-up: 'No self-awareness'

While camping season is in full swing for millions of Australians all over the country, authorities are reminding people to camp only in designated zones, or risk facing hefty fines.

Recently, reports of poor behaviour at beaches and reserves across the nation have even led to campsite closures at some popular hotspots, sparking concern that council warnings aren’t being heeded.

On Tuesday, a group were slapped with multiple infringements for setting up their campsite at Thirroul Beach in Wollongong, NSW. Overnight camping is banned on the beach and tough penalties apply. The spot has ample signage prohibiting camping, but it didn't stop one group this week.

Photos show a ute and two tents set up near an entrance to the beach, which some locals branded "seriously a joke". Online, the general sentiment among residents appeared sour, with one person saying the group's "entitled mentality" is "disappointing". "People have no self-awareness," the woman wrote.

"This isn't a drive-on beach. What if every local and tourist just decided to it was OK to do it, too. Our beach would become a sh*t hole," another passionate local commented. Though some others thought the campers hadn't done anything overly wrong.

Council urges beachgoers to comply with signage

Speaking to Yahoo News Australia, a Wollongong City Council spokesperson encouraged both visitors and residents to comply with the rules in place at beaches for the benefit of the wider community.

"Council officers and NSW Police attended Thirroul Beach on Tuesday, November 12, and issued fines under the Local Government Act for illegal camping and driving a vehicle on a Council beach," the spokesperson told Yahoo News.

"Both are prohibited activities, as clearly stipulated by signage in place at all of Council’s beaches. We urge all beachgoers to comply with signage and encourage anyone who witnesses any prohibited activities being carried out to immediately alert council or police."

Last year, Wollongong's mayor Gordon Bradbery advised locals that council staff patrol beaches and reserves and are on the lookout for rule breakers. "We love our beaches, reserves and parks and these rules are in place to keep people safe and to limit the damage to our public spaces," Bradbery said.

"Please follow the rules and listen to the advice of Council’s Compliance Officers. That means pulling your shade structures or tents down by 8pm each day and parking and driving responsibly. Our staff will be working over the holidays to ensure community members and visitors to the area are aware that these rules are in place."

Campsites in Australia close due to bad behaviour from visitors

Recently, several popular campsites in Australia have been closed due to behavioural issues and environmental concerns. On K'gari (formerly Fraser Island) last year, a portion of camping areas was temporarily closed because of increased interactions between tourists and dingoes.

The closures affected camping zones between Poyungan Rocks and The Pinnacles, following multiple incidents where dingoes bit or attempted to approach visitors who weren't adhering to safety guidelines.

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In other parts of Australia, some free camping sites have been shut down due to issues with littering and improper disposal of waste, often in remote or popular free camping areas. The Lilydale and Snowy River free campsites, for example, have seen restrictions or closures due to accumulation of rubbish and lack of resources for site maintenance.

Local authorities and community members have expressed frustration, noting that improper campsite behaviour from a minority of campers affects everyone by leading to closures of these shared spaces.

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