Tent-city to keep backpackers safe

Orange City Council’s Employment and Economic Development Policy Committee Chair Jeff Whitton said ‘The Foxhole’ was established to provide safe accommodation for the fruit-pickers and to be a point of reference for them to find work.

“In the past there were problems around anti-social behaviour and people camping in cars and tents on the side of the road, which isn’t safe,” Cr Whitton said.

“The Council decided to get on the front-foot this year by engaging with caravan park management and a couple, Angela and Brendon Argyle, to run the tent-city, known as The Foxhole.

“We’d been in talks with orchardists and NSW Farmers Association Orange Branch for more than six months and we decided this was the best, safest and most effective way to give backpackers somewhere to live while they’re here.

“By establishing the Foxhole and providing the heavy-duty, weather-proof tents, tenants are protected, caravan park management knows who is on site and management knows that they’ve paid to be there and can ensure tenants keep the place clean.

“This option is to replace last year’s plan where backpackers camped at the showground.”

The Foxhole manager, Mr Argyle said he and his wife were looking to relocate from Sydney to a regional area and met Orange City Council staff at the Regional Living Expo held at Homebush in Sydney.

“We were looking at other areas like the north coast and Byron Bay but when we heard about this proposal we thought it was too good to pass up,” Mr Argyle said.

The Foxhole team are on site 24/7 to assist the backpackers who are paying to stay in the tent-city and help them establish work in town and at orchards.

But the Argyles are also there to ensure the backpackers keep up their end of the bargain.

“If there’s any unruly behaviour then they’re asked to leave,” he said.

To stay at The Foxhole, backpackers must pay a $200 fully-refundable deposit to cover any damage to the heavy-duty tents or damage to any of the council facilities at the caravan park, which they are permitted to use.

The backpackers then pay a minimum $15.50 per, which is $3 more than camping usually costs at the caravan park but they are given a heavy-duty tent, a camp bed, a light and breakfast daily.

The fruit season has been unusually late this year because of the weather so the backpackers have been short of work, which prompted Mr Argyle to launch “Borrow a Backpacker”.

“They’re desperate for work, if you need a lawn mowed, or a fence painted, any odd jobs then contact The Foxhole,” Mr Argyle said.

Mr Argyle said the backpackers started arriving early December but the fruit picking season didn’t start in Orange until last Wednesday however it has rained every day since.

To contact The Foxhole email 2pickorange@gmail.com