New regulations finalised allowing stays of up to 24 hrs in designated roadside rest areas

3/8/99
Travellers are now allowed to camp in caravans or other vehicles in designated roadside rest areas for up to 24 hours.
Local Government Minister Paul Omodei said today that new regulations he had announced some months ago had been finalised and gazetted.
They also provided for emergency stays of up to 24 hours on any road reserve provided such stays were not contrary to other written laws, including parking restrictions.
An emergency would exist if the condition of the vehicle or the driver meant that to shift the caravan or vehicle to another location would give rise to an immediate and serious hazard.
Mr Omodei said that in conjunction with the new regulations Main Roads WA was developing criteria for establishing roadside rest areas at regular intervals on major roads and highways.
It was expected that a pamphlet would be produced to provide the public with the locations of the rest areas once they had been established.
The regulations also clarified the right of Government departments to allow camping on land they controlled.
He believed the new regulations would remove any risk of caravanners feeling compelled to drive on when good sense told them to stop.
Local governments could now allow people building a house to live in a caravan on the block for up to 12 months, provided they had a valid building permit.
People camping on private property could do so for three days with the permission of the owner, and for up to three months if they also had the permission of the local government.
For stays beyond three months they could obtain permission from the Minister.
A circular has been sent to local governments to explain the new rules.
Media contact: Hugh Ryan 9213 6700