NEVER MIND THE ILLEGAL HAMMOCKS
ROW OVER CAIRNS MAN’S LAIDBACK IDEA I
A CAIRNS man wants to hold a mass public lie-in after an Esplanade security guard told him it was against council laws to string up a hammock in the park.
Former tourism business owner Philip Warring said he spent about 20 minutes playing guitar and reading in his hammock around lunchtime on Monday before he was told to remove it due to “public liability” and the illegality of camping in public places.
Mr Warring said he first thought the security guard was joking given how well hammocks suited Cairns’ tropical, laid back lifestyle.
“The security guard wasn’t aggro, he wasn’t mean, he just stated the facts,” Mr Warring said. “I was, of course, taken aback by it all.
“This is a tropical destination ... it wasn’t dangerous, I’ve been hammocking as long as I can remember – it was half a metre off the ground so if I fell I wouldn’t hurt myself.”
Mr Warring said he was also surprised he was told to remove the hammock because he picked a spot a long distance from the lagoon so he wouldn’t be in anyone’s way.
Adding to Mr Warring’s frustration was the fact that, as a former tourism business owner, he had seen hammocks used in campaigns trying to attract visitors to the Far North.
Frustrated, Mr Warring returned home and did something he has never done – he posted a “rant” about his experience on his Facebook page.
The post went wild, attracting hundreds of likes and comments from residents.
Among the comments were also calls to hold a “hammocka-thon” in protest to the laws, with a goal to raise money for charity and hopefully break the world record for most hammocks in one place.
“It’d be great even if the council could get on board and spin this on its head, have a big hammock day, raise money for charity ... allow people to enjoy themselves and just put a bloody hammock up,” Mr Warring said.
A Cairns Regional Council spokeswoman said due to the holidays, it was difficult to find information specifically re- garding the legality of hammocks on the Esplanade.
The only reference to hammocks on the council’s website found by The Cairns Post was a page prohibiting illegal camping, which stated: “Camping is not permitted on roadsides or other designated council controlled areas in Cairns. This includes persons staying overnight in campervans, RVs, tents, hammocks and swags.”