VIOLENT parties, loud music 24 hours a day, rubbish and vandalism were the norm when Orange City Council “dumped” fruit pickers at Lake Canobolas last year, without supervision, according to one resident who lives across the road.
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Former orchardist Frank Gaeta said he could not hold his tongue any longer and wanted to speak out about the atrocious behaviour he witnessed for four months from November, as the fruit season started.
“I couldn’t sleep, I nearly lost my job,” he said.
Mr Gaeta said orchardists should be responsible for the pickers each orchard individually employed and if the council chose to take on the responsibility then the pickers, who are largely foreign backpackers, must have 24 hour supervision from security.
Pickers will no longer be allowed to camp at Lake Canobolas but the council will fund 60 additional camping sites for them at the showground.
Last year, there were far more pickers using the Lake Canobolas camping area as a “resort” than there were employed to pick fruit, Mr Gaeta said.
“In the middle of the day at 11am, in the middle of the season they were drinking and playing volleyball.. when I had an orchard we would never have employed these ratbags,” he said.
He suggested each orchard allowed on-site camping for the few pickers they employed and those who were hanging around just for a good time would be deterred.
“I’m not against orchardists, I’m not against council, but they need to be supervised,” he said.
As part of the council’s report on managing campers and backpackers, which was endorsed last week, the pickers would be allowed to camp at the showground while Colour City Caravan Park would keep its sites for regular travellers.
The report said staffing levels at the Colour City Caravan Park would be “reviewed and adjusted” according to demand “to ensure the site is properly managed’.
However, it is unclear what security would be provided at the showground.
Orange City Council spokesperson Nick Redmond said in a statement extra security patrols would occur at the campsite at the showground.
“The backpackers’ camping area will be positioned in a different location within the showground this year, further away from nearby streets in an open area near the sheep pavilion. A covered area will also be provided,” he said.
“The caravan park already has security patrols through the night. There will be extra security patrols of the backpackers’ camping area.”
“Extra casual staff will also be employed by the caravan park during this period to relate to the backpackers. This will help with staying in touch with campers’ needs and monitoring their activities more closely.”
Mr Gaeta said he felt empathy for the people who lived near the showground and hoped the problems he experienced would not be repeated.
He believed the only solution was 24-hour security.