CARAVANERS who overstay their welcome on public land will be politely moved on under changes to a council management plan.
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A Tamworth Regional Council (TRC) report shows some campers have stayed at sites for more than a year and are "living permanently within the camp grounds".
The long-term campers have become a deterrent to tourists who want to visit and stay for a short period within the camp grounds.
It might seem like semantics, but changes to the plan mean the maximum 21-day stay allowed, campers will be limited to a maximum of 21 days within a calendar year.
There has been an issue at a number of authorised campgrounds managed by the council where visitors are setting up caravans and tents for long-term stays, TRC sport and recreation manager Paul Kelly said.
"In some cases this is discouraging other people to stay and we want to ensure availability of these campgrounds to all visitors.
"A first step is to amend the Plan of Management for Community Land to include the clear stipulation of maximum says being 21 days in total within a calendar year."
Under the proposed changes, visitors will have to register with the council, TRC general manager Paul Bennett said.
"My understanding is there will be a QR code at the campgrounds and you can use your phone and that will keep a record that you have attended, or alternatively you will call customer service and record your stay," he said.
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New signage would also address curfew and noise restriction issues.
Hopefully self-regulation will play a role, councillor Jim Maxwell said.
"I know quite personally that we had the same thing in Manilla, there was a lot there and we couldn't help that but there was people there longer than they were supposed to be," he said.
"And boy-oh-boy did we get some complaints so I'm sure that self-regulation will play a very big part in these concerns."
The motion was carried and the policy will go on public exhibition for 28 days.