Camping and campfires in QPWS areas

Considerable changes in visitor use trends have occurred in the past 10 years, including a significant increase in the popularity of activities such as four-wheel driving, and camping/caravanning. For example, since 2017, the number of camper nights in protected areas has increased by approximately 20%, with 546,600 camper nights recorded in the 2022/23 financial year. Vehicle access permits issued for recreation areas have had a similar increase (18%), with over 195,000 issued in 2022/23. Some aspects of current camping arrangements are being reviewed to improve management and use of camping areas in the future.

Camping

Issue: Update campsite booking rules to manage no-shows and ‘ghost camps’ at booked sites

Current issue

• In some popular locations people are unfairly reserving sites for more time than needed for their intended stay (ghost camps) or booking more sites than they require (no shows).
• This behaviour prevents other members of the community being able to camp in these locations, even though the person who booked the site has no intention of using the site.

Proposed change

• It is proposed to amend the regulations to address these practices, by making it an offence to erect structures and leave them unattended in camp site for more than 24 hours without a reasonable excuse (such as an emergency). This approach is consistent to arrangements in New South Wales national parks.
• It is also proposed to allow camping permits to be cancelled in circumstances where there is no occupation of a booked camping site for more than 24 hours, to enable the sites to be made available to genuine campers.

Campfires

Using campfires can be an enjoyable part of visiting a QPWS area. However, as seen by the 2020 fire on K’gari (Fraser Island) misuse of campfires can have serious consequences, including injuries to visitors, loss of property, and the damage to an area’s cultural and environmental values. Managing activities associated with campfires including use of firewood is a critical part of looking after QPWS areas and visitors play an important part in ensuring the use of fire when camping is properly managed.

Issue: Aligning offences across QPWS areas for collecting plant material for campfires

Current issue

• In recreation areas a fine may be issued for the removal, damage or use of plant material for making a fire. Over 350 fines have been issued over a five-year period for this offence, demonstrating that collection of small amounts of firewood is a common problem.
• In protected areas collecting small amounts of firewood such as branches and sticks is also an offence, however it is captured under a broader more serious general offence which has a maximum fine of more than $400,000 or two-years imprisonment, and no on-the-spot fine. A more suitable offence and on-the-spot fine is required for protected areas.

Proposed change

• It is proposed to introduce a similar offence and on-the-spot fine to what is already in place for recreation areas for collection of plant material for campfires in protected areas.

Issue: Improve the way that Rangers can enforce Queensland Fire and Emergency Service (QFES) fire bans in QPWS areas

Current issue

• Campfires are allowed in QPWS areas except where they are prohibited by regulatory notices or permit conditions, or when there are temporary fire bans in place.
• When a Queensland Fire and Emergency Services (QFES) temporary fire ban is declared, rangers can enforce these following the installation of a regulatory notice (a type of sign).
• However erecting regulatory notice signs for temporary fire bans is outdated and resource intensive.
• Fire bans are also listed in the ‘Park Alerts’ on the QPWS website.
• QPWS staff and rangers also provide advice/warnings to visitors when on patrol by directly notifying campers of fire bans.

Proposed change

• Give Rangers the ability to enforce QFES fire bans without having to erect a new a regulatory notice each time a fire ban is announced.
• Advisory signs that a fire ban is in place will still be provided, however these signs can be a simpler and more streamlined than developing and installing a formal regulatory notice.

Frequently used terms

‘Private protected areas’ – means nature refuges and special wildlife reserves.

‘Protected areas’ – means national parks, national parks (scientific), national parks (Aboriginal land), national parks (Torres Strait Islander land), national parks (Cape York Peninsula Aboriginal land), conservation parks and resources reserves.

‘QPWS regulations’ – means the Nature Conservation (Protected Areas Management) Regulation 2017, the Recreation Areas Management Regulation 2017 and the Forestry Regulation 2015.

‘Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service (QPWS) area’ – means protected areas such as national parks (excluding private protected areas), recreation areas and State forests and timber reserves established under the Nature Conservation Act 1992,the Recreation Areas Management Act 2006 and the Forestry Act 1959 respectively.

‘Recreation areas’ - Queensland has seven recreation areas established under the Recreation Areas Management Act 2006. Recreation areas are managed either solely by the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service or in partnership with others. Recreation areas are K’gari (Fraser Island), Green Island, Bribie Island, Inskip Peninsula, Cooloola, Mulgumpin (Moreton Island), Minjerribah (North Stradbroke Island). Mulgumpin and Minjerribah recreation areas are managed jointly with the Quandamooka Yoolooburrabee Aboriginal Corporation (QYAC).

‘Regulatory notice’ – these are a type of sign that Rangers place in protected areas. There are rules about where and when regulatory signs can be used, and what content they can contain. Regulatory notices are typically used by Rangers to regulate certain activities in particular places to enable appropriate park management.