WAGGA City Council and police are powerless to stop one of the city's public facilities from turning into a squatter's paradise.
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They do not have the ability to move squatters on due to a bizarre loophole in Crown land legislation.
The issue of campers at Wilks Park was reignited after complaints surfaced against a man who established a residence under a picnic table a number of weeks ago.
The table is strewn with blankets and hoarded items in an area that receives high amounts of traffic in and out of north Wagga.
Wilks Park is on Crown land and has therefore rendered council unable to tell the man to move on.
Rules state that long-term residency on Crown land is not allowed, however, there are no guidelines which specify what constitutes 'long term' in this situation.
Council has received complaints about the man in question and has reported him to police on a number of occasions.
But Wagga police said their hands are tied.
"He's got rights to Crown land," Wagga crime manager, Detective Acting Inspector Michael Handley said.
"I'm not aware of any complaints but I'm not saying police aren't aware of him in general."
The site in a state of disarray is not enough to take action against the man.
"I don't know of an offence for not looking great," Detective Handley said.
Police are only able to interject if the man is being a nuisance or physically harming others.