TWEED Shire Council will crack down on the growing problem of illegal campers by increasing ranger patrols during peak holiday seasons and erecting signage.

The council said it receives 100 complaints a year about campers staying in areas without approval or where there's signage banning it, with the majority generated during peak school and public holidays.

The worst affected areas, according to council officers, are the beachfront locations of Cudgen Foreshore Park and Kings

cliff's Faulks Park and Jack Bayliss Park.

The council voted unanimously on March 20 to increase ranger patrols in the early morning and afternoon during holiday periods to deter illegal campers.

They will also install newly worded signage at the entrances to the three hot spots, saying: 'No camping at any time on council reserve, park, car park or foreshore. Fines apply, maximum penalty $1100, on-the-spot penalty $110.'

It is to replace the current signage of 'Camping and overnight staying prohibited', which rangers had difficulty enforcing due to ambiguity in the wording.

A report will be brought back to the council in six months evaluating the effectiveness of the signage and whether further limiting of camping should be considered.

Kingscliff Chamber of Commerce president Jane Henry said there were a lot of great accommodation providers in the town that should be supported by visitors.

"There are free camping areas available so we don't need to have people randomly setting up camp," Ms Henry said.

A council spokesman said the new signs would be put up in the next few weeks.

Fines

• Fines for illegal camping range from $110-$1100. The council was unable to reveal how many have been issued as the fine shares a generic infringement code for not complying with council signs.