The Mail was tipped off by residents unimpressed at having the town entrance turned into a laundry on Friday afternoon and arrived at the same time as council ranger Peter Fagan to find assorted men’s and women’s underwear and clothing hung on three makeshift clotheslines slung between trees in the bush at the northern end of the car park.

Assorted bedding and clothing was draped over a camper van in the car park.

Two young men and two young women removed the clothing after Mr Fagan asked them to and issued a formal warning.

They told Mr Fagan they were not camping illegally at Rotary Park but were staying at Chapman Pool camp ground on the Blackwood River.

On Wednesday last week the shire council announced that its rangers will work together with local police over coming weeks to conduct a series of late-night and early-morning “blitzes”, fining those who are camping in areas other than designated caravan parks or camping grounds.

Council chief executive officer Gary Evershed said the council was taking more direct action in response to feedback from the community over previous years.

“The issue of illegal camping is one that comes up every year and I understand that many community members are concerned about it,” he said. “We have heeded those concerns and this year stepped up our efforts in combating the issue.”

Mr Evershed said the intention wasn’t to scare campers away from the region, but to redirect them to more appropriate facilities.

“Often the illegal campers are young people who have come to the region for seasonal work,” he said. “They make a valuable contribution to the shire’s economy by assisting with the vintage harvest.”

“We do value their contribution to the local economy but they need to use the available purpose-built camping facilities.”