A couple who are traveling the country in a caravan have defended a viral video that promotes the use of a ‘key to Australia’ to gain access to water sources that are typically restricted to the public.
Britt and Wade, originally from Brisbane, decided to hit the road nine months ago with their two sons after Wade was diagnosed with a brain tumour three years ago. With a mortgage on a too-small home and unable to upsize due to the rising cost of housing, they took a trip away camping, where they decided to give the lifestyle a go full-time.
The idea of buying a tap key, which allows access to anti-vandal water taps that are typically restricted to the public, came up during the planning phase of their trip. Aussies raved about their use, adding that they are a “requirement” to life on the road. It was so easy to buy from Bunnings, and an open secret in the travelling community.
“I got it straight off the shelf at Bunnings for $16. Took about thirty seconds,” she told Yahoo News. The products are available at a number of other major retailers.
The couple made a video purporting the benefits of the item, describing it as the “key to Australia”, which has since gone viral with over a million views. However, concerns were raised by viewers. The family were accused of theft and being “sponges”.
Sydney Water and TasWater told Yahoo News there were health risks involved in using water restricted to the public.
Caravanning couple push back on tap key criticism
Britt said she’d “push back pretty firmly” on the concerns raised, pointing out that the caravanning industry contributes nearly $28 billion to the Australian economy, something councils embrace and benefit from.
“When we stay at a free camp and fill up from a public water point instead of paying for a caravan park, that money doesn’t disappear,” she said. “It goes straight back into the local community.”
“That’s real dollars flowing into regional economies, often towns that rely on it. We are not sponges. We are spending in communities that often don’t have a lot of other foot traffic coming through.”
She said the councils that roll out the welcome mat for travellers, with good facilities, free camps and accessible water points, are the ones that benefit most from them being there.
What should travellers keep in mind when using tap keys?
Kate Crawford, TasWater General Manager, told Yahoo News the taps with vandal-resistant handles do not always offer “suitable drinking water” and can pose a health risk. “While we understand why some travellers carry them, using a tap key to access water where it’s not clearly intended for public use isn’t something we encourage,” she said.
“Unauthorised use can place pressure on local systems, particularly in smaller or regional communities where supply can already be stretched,” she said. Sydney Water echoed the sentiment, telling Yahoo News it “advises the public to access water only where it is clearly permitted”.
Britt admitted the family do use the water for “everything, drinking water included”, but they use a filtration system that makes it safe. “We take water quality seriously, especially with two young kids on board,” she said.
They also “do their homework” before using a water point by checking reviews on WikiCamps as well as the surrounding infrastructure. “They’re always happy to help you find a water source, and they’ll often throw in a few local secrets about the best swimming spots, cafes or markets while they’re at it,” she said.
As for the legality, Brit said: “We’re not cutting locks or climbing fences, and we would never use a tap with signage not to use it.”
Caravan family urges travellers to ‘use judgement and do your research’
Britt’s message to fellow travellers is to “use your judgement and do your research.” “It’s also worth understanding why these taps have a keyed fitting in the first place,” she said.
“It’s not about restricting travellers, it’s about preventing wastage from kids accidentally leaving taps running or vandalism. Different councils have very different set-ups for travellers. In areas where water is more restricted, we’ve come across paid water fill stations. Other councils have invested in proper RV areas with dump points, bins, potable water and public facilities all in one spot. There’s a real range out there depending on the region.”
She urged travellers not to be wasteful. “Take what you need and move on,” she said. “The travelling community has a strong ethic around leaving things as or better than you found them. These are shared resources, and it’s on all of us to treat them that way.”
A Bunnings spokesperson told Yahoo News the product is intended for “safe, practical use”. “We encourage customers to follow product guidance and use items responsibly,” she said.
