Residents in Western Australia's Augusta-Margaret River region have expressed mounting frustration over the local shire's failure to establish overflow camping facilities for the summer influx of budget van travellers.
Social Media Backlash Against Shire Strategy
The Shire of Augusta-Margaret River faced significant criticism after unveiling its revised strategy at a special council meeting last week. Despite months of behind-the-scenes work and the formation of a new stakeholder committee to address illegal camping, the approach was widely rejected on social media platforms.
The shire's own Facebook announcement had comments disabled, preventing direct community feedback on their proposed solution. The local government's language about walking "side by side" with residents was particularly criticized, with community members demanding the council "be the adult in the room" and move beyond endless consultation to take concrete action.
Community Calls for Practical Solutions
Local resident Cath Wood questioned the shire's punitive approach, asking whether any consideration had been given to providing safe, legal camping areas. "You haven't given any thought at all to providing a place where people can actually camp up safely and legally?" she challenged.
Wood highlighted the important role working holidaymakers play in the local economy, noting "we need these travellers in town. They do a lot of jobs that nobody else wants to do." Her comments reflect the delicate balance between managing visitor numbers and maintaining the region's workforce.
Another resident, Danny Akers, suggested a straightforward solution: "Give some adequate outlets for people to camp at and you won't have the issues you claim to have." He argued that providing free or low-cost camping infrastructure would actually encourage tourism and support the seasonal employment needs of the region's vineyards and hospitality sector.
Shire's Difficult Position
The local government finds itself in a challenging position, with many residents calling for the stronger enforcement measures now included in the strategy. However, concerns have been raised about international visitors potentially avoiding penalties, and some view the tougher approach as "un-Australian" and contrary to the region's identity as a welcoming visitor destination.
The shire has repeatedly avoided committing to overflow camping facilities, previously stating that such a solution wouldn't be easy or cheap to implement. Officials have also questioned whether travellers would actually use designated overflow areas if provided.
The situation highlights the ongoing tension between managing seasonal tourism pressures and supporting the economic needs of a region that relies heavily on both visitor dollars and temporary workers for its key industries.
