Closure of free camping at ulupna island along the murray river near Strathmerton vic . This was a great free camp spot with many sandy beaches and safe access for kids to play near the water & enjoying fishing and canoeing.Strathmerton traders fear impact of Ulupna Island
local news
The closure of a popular camping area at the eastern end of the Barmah National Park has angered local traders.
Concrete barricades have been placed on entry roads to Ulupna Island, preventing visitors and locals from accessing the area.
Jodie Franklin from the Strathmerton general store said the area has been closed indefinitely because of the poor condition of roads and facilities.
She said if people could not camp there, a lot of nearby businesses would struggle.
"That means that people aren't going to come here anymore, they're going to find somewhere new for their camping and once you find somewhere new that you like you don't tend to go back to that old area and there will be a lot of businesses either go broke, a lot of jobs be lost," she said.
She said campers and other visitors spent a lot of money locally.
"A lot of the local businesses in town, we're only a small community, the majority of the businesses rely on our camping season during Easter, Melbourne Cup weekend and Christmas mainly," she said.
"We're going to lose a lot of business with campers coming into town and resupplying, coming in for food."
A Parks Victoria spokeswoman said two tracks were closed two weeks ago because of damage caused by heavy rain.
She said staff were assessing the need for repairs as a safety precaution before a decision to reopen the tracks could be made.
Conspiracy theory by b the greens stopping people free camping
local news
The closure of a popular camping area at the eastern end of the Barmah National Park has angered local traders.
Concrete barricades have been placed on entry roads to Ulupna Island, preventing visitors and locals from accessing the area.
Jodie Franklin from the Strathmerton general store said the area has been closed indefinitely because of the poor condition of roads and facilities.
She said if people could not camp there, a lot of nearby businesses would struggle.
"That means that people aren't going to come here anymore, they're going to find somewhere new for their camping and once you find somewhere new that you like you don't tend to go back to that old area and there will be a lot of businesses either go broke, a lot of jobs be lost," she said.
She said campers and other visitors spent a lot of money locally.
"A lot of the local businesses in town, we're only a small community, the majority of the businesses rely on our camping season during Easter, Melbourne Cup weekend and Christmas mainly," she said.
"We're going to lose a lot of business with campers coming into town and resupplying, coming in for food."
A Parks Victoria spokeswoman said two tracks were closed two weeks ago because of damage caused by heavy rain.
She said staff were assessing the need for repairs as a safety precaution before a decision to reopen the tracks could be made.
Conspiracy theory by b the greens stopping people free camping
Hopefully, someone with common sense will sort it out. :hail:
