14 replies to this topic

[Mystic]

Quote

THE Circular Head Council will ban free camping at two of Stanley's most popular beach reserves after resident complaints and concerns offering free camping could be in breach of fair trading laws. Cr Graham Wells put forward a motion to temporarily ban free camping at the Tatlows Beach car park and the Godfreys Beach foreshore at Thursday night's council meeting.

He said the summer period had seen record numbers of motorhomes and the influx had caused congestion problems in the historic town.

"My preference is for camping in Stanley to remain open slather," he said.

"But the number of holiday makers this year in peak times was in excess of any other year and I am well aware of complaints we've received from local people who love visiting these areas."

Council executive manager business strategy Maryanne Edwards said the state Economic Regulator was currently investigating at least two matters in other municipalities in relation to free camping and whether councils who offer free camping in areas close to commercial caravan parks are in breach of fair trading laws.

She said in light of the current investigations "it would be prudent" to introduce the ban at least until a decision has been reached.

Speaking in favour of the motion, Cr Trevor Spinks said the areas in question were designed for families and for day use.

"We don't want to discourage free camping in and around Stanley but we do need to take some alternative action," he said.

Only Cr John Oldaker opposed the motion.

"I find it ironic that Cr Wells would do everything he could to get people to visit Stanley and now he's going to place restrictions on where they can park," he said.

Assistant general manager Tony Smart said the ban would only be in force during daytime hours and would not prevent holiday-makers from spending the night in the areas in question.

The ban will be reviewed in 12 months time.

Quoted from the North West Advocate

This is absolutely crazy and will drive tourists away from our State, as well as make it harder for local families to enjoy reasonably priced holiday times. It seems a number of councils are considering this ban and could be the start of the end of free camping across Tasmania

[dave]

ah! the thin edge of the wedge, as a "mainlander" who visits Tassie quite regular I will simply state that Stanley will see me only during a small portion of my time on the apple isle, I will go where I (and my Dollar) is valued higher!

I am also a member of the C.M.C.A. and can assure residents that indeed the motorhomes will vanish if that is what they wish, reminds me of an old saying...........be careful what you wish for.........

[Mystic]

I think a lot of people will be having exactly the same thoughts as you Dave. Great way to drive $$$ out of local economies.

[exislegirl]

Sad indeed... and as for being 'in breach of fair trading laws', that is just ridiculous!

Natalie

[Shane V]

It's just ridiculous. People will still stay in the caravan parks...I know I would if I needed a shower or some other reason that required me to do so. But sure I like the free camping. Money would still be spent in the community depending on where they stayed.

[dave]

the thing is Shane, we are completely self sufficient for around a week if need be, we have our own toileting facilities and showering and of course cooking and eating facilities, ...........................the distances in Tassie are not great so topping up our supplies is no biggy, ..........we can do it when and where WE choose

there are plenty of towns that welcome us "motorhomers" with open arms, giving us somewhere to park our rigs free of charge and access to pottable water, we merely need a resupply of food, water and fuel and we are gone for another week

where that resupplying is done is totally up to us, we choose areas that are "R.V. friendly", and there are plenty of them, simply because we feel they deserve our money more than other areas

we spend roughly $150 per day per vehicle then once a week we have a "top up day" where we may spend between $300 and $400 on supplies, medication and fuel, my wife and I have been doing this all over australia for the last 30 years

if the good folk of Stanley don't want this income then there are plenty of towns that do, we will go and have a look at the nut then leave, spending nothing in Stanley itself, if that is what the locals want

this has become a hot topic amongst the forum at the C.M.C.A. (camper and motorhome club of australia) website, which is australia's and new zealands biggest camper and motorhome forum, now including caravans, and the talk is not good

I am not sure of the exact number of members but it is in the thousands, most visit the apple isle but are now rethinking their travel plans

this could cost Stanley, and Tasmania as a whole, a hell of a lot of money, also taking into consideration the governments recent approval of the expansion of gunns pulp mill!

perhaps a letter to the editor would be appropriate to try and stem the trouble created by the minority!

(edit) I just had a look and the C.M.C.A. currently has over 60,000 members

this is a bigger issue than one would think!

some on the forum are saying if Tassie doesn't want us then Queensland does! and a lot are agreeing!

[Mystic]

You are only confirming exactly the response I expected would happen when I first noticed this article Dave. A totally stupid move by any council. The same newspaper ran a story a few weeks back about a caravan park owner complaining that the free camping ground half a kilometer away was very busy and he was losing customers as a result. The owner felt that the free site should be shut down so more people would use his place. These fools do not realise that closing such sites down will not send customers to over priced van parks, but rather to different locations entirely.

When I am camping I will spend between 50-100 every few days. I don't have a fridge so I need to resupply more often than you motorhome folk do. Every town I visit usually gets at least $100 of my money, and often double or triple that.No free camp site, and I will go elsewhere, as will a lot of other people. I am currently planning a lot of trips over the rest of this year and hope to cover all the free sites in Tassie during the next 12 months, with reviews posted here. Will be keeping a very close eye on what various councils are doing and keep people posted as I find out more.

[dave]

yes Anna a bad move, we will go a long way for a free camp, preferring to spend the $30 per night caravan fees on fuel, we neither need nor want caravan parks, we prefer to be out on our own

the C.M.C.A. has a list of "R.V. friendly" towns in Tasmania, ask any of the local businesses and townsfolk in these towns whether this scheme has had any benefit for them, ask the next town on the same question. I know the answer as i belong to the club and have seen the letters of thanks from the community's,

to reject tourism in a small island community is to court bankruptcy

[midgetyone]

Hmmmm sad sad sad. It has been clearly stated by everyone the there will be a relocation of "foreign" spending due to the decision, I am also in this boat. The patronage that a park operator receives currently and will continue to receive, will be those who require facilities that parks provide. The patrons of free camping places do not require these facilities. So in adding 2 and 2 by removing free camping may not increase revenue for an operator but could in turn reduce it through bad reputation of the area by turning away large motoring groups and general tourism. Not to mention the economical effect on the community.

Free camp sites should rather be seen as free advertising. They are not stealing patrons, merely providing a place for people who otherwise would not have stayed in the area.

[Shane V]

Well said Chris

[midgetyone]

Thanks Shane,

Tourism is the major industry in Tasmania, and what do we seem to do with this valuable asset? The state reacts to it by behaving like a scared ostrich and hopes the issue resolves itself or goes away, way to go! Thank you to all those in the tourism industry who actively try to build on the industry.

Who else here gets enraged when they have paid $130 in park fees only to find they then have to pay minimum of $15p/n when they get to a camp ground. I thought the fees were for the upkeep of our parks, fair enough, but I don't use $15 a night of toilet paper when I camp somewhere...... So again another issue similar, why do we pay twice? Very insulting so now I refuse to stay at parks.

Here's an idea Parks.... considering how much and how many people camp why not have a camp levy on the parks pass making it $150 for those who want to camp thereby abolishing camp site fees, and reduce the pass to $100 for those who don't? I'm sure this would increase day trippers as it becomes more appealing to a larger number of people and more appealing to those who enjoy camping. With proper advertising I would say patronage would increase greatly.

I should probably shut my trap before I upset someone

[Mystic]

You make very good points Chris. Especially about paying for camping after already having paid for a parks pass. I know the cap ground at Mt Field is run by a private contractor, though paying for camping at other parks, especially places like Top Camp is bloody ridiculous.

[midgetyone]

Thanks Mystic.

[Mystic]

Seems this issue has reared its ugly head again. According to an article in The Advocate today free camping may vanish soon.

Quote

The Office of the Tasmanian Economic Regulator, based on "competitive neutrality" grounds, ruled the council free sites financially disadvantaged park operators.

Local government Minister Bryan Green said a uniform pricing policy would soon be adopted statewide.

I will be curious to see how this works in practice as many of the free camp grounds are not owned or operated by local council. If caravan park operators wanted more people to stay at their sites then they should do something about making their business more attractive and reasonably priced. $175 for an unpowered tent site for a week where you have no privacy and are surrounded by hundreds of others is not exactly attractive. Once upon a time if a business was unvianle and could not survive the market on its own merits, the business folded. Now it seems, if you can't survive then seek legislation and government assistance to prop up your own failure.

[Cascade]

Tend to agree with you there Mystic.

I have always maintained that people that want powered sites will use Caravan parks. people that want all the facilities but don't need power will use Caravan parks... People that don't want or require either of those will look for somewhere quiet and preferably FREE hopefully with at least a toilet. I find it incredible for instance that one of these places locally that provide so called camping facilities, charges $5.00 a head per night for camping only, nothing else and will you please take your rubbish with you when you go, $3.00 more per head if you dare to want a shower plus an extra $5.50 on top of that if you want some power to charge your camera batteries or for some lighting. For a family of say 4 who want a powered site and showers its going to be $37.50 per night minimum.


From my experience, I believe that the word "Tourism" to some people is just another word that means "add a couple of 0's to the price, rip off and fleece as many people, as quickly as you can before they actually wake up, get pissed off and go home.

So called Tourism Operators, Councils, Politicians and those that make or change the rules, need to bear in mind that many of these "tourists" have probably had a local give them some "FREE advice" or that they may actually even have one showing them around our wonderful State.

If we want the "Tourism" that the Government keeps telling us is supposedly gonna help fix Tasmania's economy, because, soon there wont be any other jobs around anyway, then we need to provide what is needed, The first priority for me would be "SERVICE" as many businesses just don't have a clue what this is or what it means. Secondly there needs to be plenty of suitable "FREE CAMPING AREAS". Thirdly, travelers actually need to be made to feel that they are WELCOME wherever they visit in this State and not feel totally unwelcome as I did when we arrived in town at 10.00am with our camper on board at Weymouth in NE Tasmania. Of course there's not really any need to say there were also "NO CAMPING" signs everywhere you looked.

If all of the above three things are happening when they go home they are going to talk and tell their friends, who hopefully will want to be on the next plane or boat to Tassie. Nothing works better than word of mouth.