Dream host role has a serious side

Waking to the sound of waves lapping against the shore and spending the day fishing are part of the job description for City of Albany summer camp hosts.

With camp grounds at local beaches set to fill up over the summer holidays, the City wants to hire a few lucky campers to keep the camp sites in order.

The City has advertised the posts on Facebook, receiving an understandably strong response.

With free camping and a weekly allowance for maintenance included, it sounds like the dream job.

But City reserves manager Jacqui Freeman said it was a serious role.

“Camp hosts need to be friendly, proactive, motivated, good communicators, have an interest in nature and experience with long-term camping,” Ms Freeman said.

“Camp hosts provide a friendly point of contact for visitors and assist the City’s reserves staff to monitor and manage the areas by ensuring camping rules are followed, such as not lighting any fires or overstaying.

“They also help ensure campers only use dedicated sites so there is no damage to the environment, and provide information to tourists and direction if the camp grounds are full.”

The program runs at Cosy Corner, Torbay Inlet, Normans Beach, East Bay and Betty’s Beach.

Margaret and Scott Carrington are the first camp hosts for the season at Betty’s Beach and are making the most of the opportunity.

Ms Freeman said most visitors were well behaved and respectful of the sites.

“The main issue has been campers pushing into areas that are not dedicated camp sites causing damage to vegetation, staying past the seven-day limit and lighting fires, so having the camp hosts has helped manage this better,” Ms Freeman said. “Looking after these sites and ensuring the environment is preserved is a priority of our nature-based camping strategy, and our volunteer camp hosts are there to help us achieve this.” They hope to have a camp host at each site until Easter.

For details, contact Ms Freeman on 68203946 or jacqui.freeman@albany.wa.gov.au.