Opinions were divided in Jamberoo this week after Kiama Council resolved not to reopen the small overnight free camping area at Kevin Walsh Oval, even when COVID allows.

This decision wasn’t based on an analysis of the pros and cons of the activity, but on the late discovery that Council was allowing it without a DA.

“I was surprised that it has never had an approval from Council,” says Mayor Mark Honey.

“There was paid camping there back in the Sixties and Seventies, and it seems no one asked the question before now.”

Over recent years, Council approved signs, the installation of a Dump Point for effluent disposal and the area, which was closed in April due to COVID, was patrolled by rangers. The site had four designated bays and a 48 hour limit.

During this time, some locals have complained to Council about hygiene, health, security and anti-social behaviour from previous campers, but none of that led to the lack of a DA being noted.

If the site is to be opened up again, it will need a DA approved for it.

Ross Douglas, President of the Jamberoo Tennis Club, isn’t opposed to having free camping in Jamberoo, but not on this site.

“This area is unsustainable. People are jam-packed in cheek-by-jowl. There were massive Winnebagos or Pajero 4 wheel drives with caravans on the back.”

He contends that the site is too close to the skate park and adjacent football car park.

“The other day there were about 40 kids at the skate park, small kids on scooters. I see the potential for a child to be injured at some point.”

Also, some campers had used the tennis club house for cooking or recharging phones without authorisation, items were taken and there were security and hygiene issues.

Councillor Matt Brown, head of the Destination Kiama Advisory Committee, is also pleased to see this camp site closed.

“I support the backpacking and budget camping markets. But nothing is free these days. Maintaining this site costs ratepayers money. People need to understand we are a very small council with limited resources.

“I’m here to promote paying overnight stays for my members. In our peak periods, such as Christmas and Easter, we do have overflow budget camping and caravan sites at The Pavilion and Chapman Oval.

“Potentially we could look at Jamberoo, but not at this location. Whatever we decide, it needs to be properly managed, budgeted and resourced.”

“This camping area was really special,” says Steve Whitworth, Jamberoo Football Club President, who would like to see it open in the same site with some changes.

“We train on Wednesday evenings and it was often quite normal for people from the camping ground to join us – young people from Europe or South America. So culturally it was really nice.

“So, I do support the camp site. But it has been badly managed. It needed proper signage and the tennis club car park moved to the other side of the courts.

“Around Australia and the world some campgrounds call themselves free, but mostly they have a donation box. This could be monitored by local community groups.”

Jamberoo featured in Wikicamps' best free camping within a 100km of Sydney

Steve suggests that alternative sites could be explored, say directly across the road alongside the creek.

“My instinct is that the overwhelming majority of the community was saddened that it was closed for COVID and now permanently.”

The idea of looking for an alternate site or tourism strategy is shared by Councillor Neil Reilly. He regularly attends the Jamberoo Residents & Rate Payers Association and understands that the community is keen to find tourism ideas that market the special qualities of the region for the betterment of the district.

“Campers and Jamberoo deserve something better than this current site.

“Good tourism practice is to have high prices for high value locations, but I also believe we need a stepped range of camping offerings. Our area is so nice, that we need to open it up to as many people as possible to share it.”

Neil says he is happy to work directly with residents and ratepayers to investigate a solution to the camping issue.