The erection of the signs last week was the first step by Wagga City Council to change how the previously unregulated stop-off could be used.

Last year it was decided to restrict visitors to a three-night stay and ban people without self-contained vehicles.

But with no one patrolling the site and investigations into breaches only occurring after a complaint is made, the rules have so far been ignored.

When The Daily Advertiser visited the area yesterday, the homeless still had their tents set up and some visitors talked of plans of week-long stays.

Werner Brown was one of those people, arriving yesterday morning from Mildura in his van.

He said it was his first time in Wagga and he planned to stay for a week because he needed to wait until he could afford petrol.

“I came this morning and I’m planning to stay until pay day because I need fuel money,” he said.

“It’s empty; I won’t hurt anybody by staying longer than three nights.

“If it was busy it might be different.”

Long-time Wilks Park resident Chris Matthews, who is legally classified as homeless, said he was furious about the signs.

“I’ve been here on-and-off for six years,” he said. 

“What they’re doing is in breach of the NSW government’s Protocol for Homeless People in Public Places.

“I think the signs are a bloody insult, it’s un-Australian and it’s disgusting.”

Mr Matthews questioned how anyone could tell him to leave if a complaint was made.

That was something council’s Director of Commercial and Economic Development Peter Adams said would be determined on a case-by-case basis.

He said they were yet to receive a complaint, though. 

“There hasn’t been a complaint that I’m aware of,” he said.

“There are a number of conditions that we’re working our way through.

“In the bigger picture, this is about council managing the overall competing interests, including those of caravan park owners and considering the visual amenity of the area.

“Council had no control over what happened at the grounds before.”

Mr Adams said staff were currently working with Kooringal Rotary to finalise a refurbishment project for the park.

He said this would include improved roads, a new shelter, fencing and a fire pit.