New riverfront crown lease camping law attracts 1000 submissions

As part of the 2018 election commitments, the government committed to 'guarantee access to fishing and camping on river frontage crown land.

A Victorian Fisheries Authority spokeswoman said the public was already able to lawfully access licensed river frontages for recreation, such as fishing, picnicking and hiking.

The public was also allowed to camp in state forests, in harmony with farmers who had grazing licences.

"We understand there is significant interest in the proposed changes," the spokeswoman said.

"That's why we are extending the consultation period until April 26 to allow more people to read the draft regulations which will govern camping on these areas.

"Reading the regulations is an important part of understanding what these changes really mean."

No changes will come into place until September 1, 2021.

The Parks and Crown Land Amendment Bill allows people to access river and creek frontages for camping, fishing and outdoor activities.

The changes have the potential to have an impact on 10,000 licences and an additional 17,000kms of Victorian river and creek frontages.

The spokeswoman said more than 1,000 submissions had been received from a range of key stakeholders such as licence holders, fisher and environmental groups.

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Shepparton vet Angus McKinnon said the only way to manage the conflict he felt was looming between landowners and some campers was to have designated camping areas.

"The idea is good - the management is difficult," Dr McKinnon said.

"The regulations will place the onus of control on the landholder and bring direct conflict between campers and land managers or owners of adjacent freehold.

"It is clear that there is a recognition within the VFA/Department of Environment, Land Water and Planning that there is a possibility for campers to disturb livestock, camp close to freehold dwellings and exhibit bad and difficult to manage behaviour.

Designated camping areas would be well managed and provide for toilets and rubbish removal.

Dr McKinnon said there were many examples of designated camping areas that existed harmoniously with landowners.

Cheynse Bridge on the Macalister Rriver was a good example of that.

"If designated areas are not provided, then education needs to occur on how to avoid livestock," he said.

"The liability of owners of freehold associated with river leasehold country needs to be specifically addressed."

Dr McKinnon questioned who would be responsible if a person was adversely affected by encountering an aggressive animal.

"Who would be responsible when livestock are involved in an accident or when campers do not shut gates?" he said.

"We already are responsible for quite high liability insurance, as determined within the lease.

"Will this be increased, as clearly the risk is increased?"

Regulations controlling areas where people might camp were responsible and necessary.

"However, the policing of these regulations is difficult or impossible and once again the burden will fall on the shoulders of landholders that have adjacent freehold to their licensed river frontages.

"The potential for bushfire devastation is another reason to argue for designated camping areas and general camping on river frontages not to be carte blanche."

Eastern Victoria Nationals MP Melina Bath said a visit to Glenfalloch Station, Licola, highlighted the complexities of changes to licenced river frontages regulations.

"The draft regulations in their current format raise more questions than answers," Ms Bath said.

"Questions relating to waste management, water quality, bushfire risk, vulnerable species, biosecurity, public liability and protection of stock need addressing.

"There will need to be some compromise by all parties to achieve an acceptable outcome"

She said when looking specifically at the Macalister river system there needed to be consideration to ensure that public access wouldl not negatively impact on soil erosion, river bank stabilisation, native vegetation regeneration and water quality.

"Currently licence holders are undertaking signifcant environmental rehabilitation on behalf of the state government, however if public access is not adequately managed, important restoration work could be put at risk," she said.

Farmers were concerned that the draft regulations fail to mention the landholder or issues such as trespass and public liability.

"Allowing public access on licenced river frontages is a complex issue and frustratingly Labor has pushed through the legislation without comprehensive analysis of the consequences," she said.

"Many fear, in the absence of adequate resourcing including additional authorised officers, farmers will be left to do the policing, in effect becoming park rangers."