VFF president Emma Germano was scathing in her criticisms of the process, which will exclude neighbouring farmers from being consulted in site assessments.
On ABC radio she described the camping idea as a “brain-fart”.
Victorian Environment Minister Lily D’Ambrosio said on September 1 the potential camping areas to be opened up by the regulations included northern Victoria and the Goulburn River.
State Member for Euroa and Victorian Nationals deputy leader Steph Ryan said landholders held serious concerns about the government’s draft regulations, which were going to allow campers at a site for up to 28 days, building campfires and collecting up to half a cubic metre of wood a day.
Meeting with Nagambie Riparian Group representative John Beresford in Nagambie, Ms Ryan said the process was in shambles.
“The Andrews Labor Government has admitted today that our region is going to be ground zero for their ill-conceived thought bubble,” Ms Ryan said.
“With the scheme due to start today, we still have no idea where these pilot sites are, or what regulations are going to be put in place.”
Ms Germano said while farmers with licences impacted by the 27 pilot sites had been notified an assessment was taking place, they were not being consulted in the assessment.
“Currently licence holders are only being notified that an assessment is taking place on their licensed frontage,” she said.
“This needs to change. How can the impacts be assessed without speaking to the impacted farmer?
“No-one knows the land better than farmers who live and work on it every day. It’s a no-brainer to involve farmers in this process.”
Ms Germano was concerned the situation was an “accident waiting to happen”.
“Campers interacting with farm businesses is just an accident waiting to happen.
“As much as it burdens farmers, there is also a genuine concern for those camping in areas where it’s just not appropriate and dangerous to pitch a tent.
“Farmers will have to deal with the campfire that gets away, the spooked stock, gates left open and, God forbid, a serious injury or death. These are not cases of if, but when.
“Unfortunately the notion of free camping doesn’t exist and farmers will be the ones left out-of-pocket dealing with issues such as broken gates and wrecked fences.”
The government said it had consulted extensively with the community and promised that camping would only take place on suitable sites, with a rigorous assessment process applied to ensure sites would be safe for camping, with environmental and agricultural impacts considered as well as any impact on Indigenous cultural heritage.
Up to 27 sites along the Goulburn, Broken, Ovens, Campaspe, Loddon and Murray rivers are currently being assessed, with hundreds more to follow.
The public can already lawfully access licensed river frontages for recreation such as fishing, hiking and picnicking.
