Motouring Australia is the newly named Lobby Group for RV Travellers, see article below from ATCM&CC website;

http://www.atcmcc.org.au/clubnews.php?newsid=motourin 

Vic

hi vic.            if you go into the motouring australia,web site.               i see that there are some figures_    70 percent of these showground sites are allready letting us blokes use these sites on a short term basis.             20 percent wont let us use there sites even if the state govt says its ok.          if these figures are correct??????      what is happening here        is somone doing a bit of grand standing                there is a bit of a rumor getting around the c.m.c.a.  that if this happens it will only be for "self contained units",   which i totally disagree with.    has anyone heard anything

Hi Ken, I can't bring the motouring australia website up, it keeps taking me to the ATCM&CC website link that I have put on my first post above. Do you have it please? Are you a membr of CMCA ? Yes that is one of my fears that a lot of these sites may be exclusively for those that are able to comply with the LNT self contained requirements fully and display the LNT sticker. If they showgrounds or whatever have ablution blocks then I think they should be available to all. One thing I am sure of, if you are at a roadside stop where there are no rules posted (eg: you must be fully self contained) and are not displaying an LNT sticker (which you have to pay for by the way and only get if you satisfy the requirements of the CMCA and sign a declaration to that effect) and an LNT RV owner comes up to you and tells you that you can't stay there, I think there are going to be a few heated arguments and if they do they will be told to pee off in no uncertain terms. I agree to the LNT in principle, but not everyone's RV is going to be able to comply with the rules 100% due to the size of their RV being able to contain all that is required. Just my humble opinion. Vic

CMCA LNT requirements are not that hard to meet though. I can meet requirements for up to about 3 nights in my Hi Ace for just myself. Annie

If you're talking about van/RV groups and clubs, they seem to plan their gatherings so there is a paddock or camping ground somewhere so they can all camp together. They can get up to 30 vans participating in one trip and they need somewhere to park in bulk. Town ovals and showgrounds, or in the case of some places, rodeo grounds and sporting clubs, are made available for large groups. I don't think it's a matter of exclusivity, just a practical space to park a large group/club. These sites are probably not made available for the random traveller, especially if there's a caravan park in the town or nearby. They are usually managed by the sporting body or the local government. "Leave no trace" should be the policy of every traveller, and no one should have to join any club or sign up and pay. There's nothing exclusive or elitist about caring for our environment. It should be a way of life - free. Cheers Chris

It's not just about club use Chris, these changes are mooted for everyone, whether in a club or not, and the lobby groups are trying to set a standard for Councils to work by and enforce not only on showgrounds/ovals etc, but also in roadside stops. Many individuals are also allowed to camp on showgrounds, ovals etc upon payment of a small fee, I assume this would be in towns that may not have a caravan park. Some I have been to that allow this provide toilets and showers and even power, but the RV's park around the grounds perimeter rather than on the showground/oval proper. What would be exclusive or elitist is if individuals were excluded from camping overnight (even if they were self sufficient) just because they were not displaying a sticker for a particular organisation. I am all for a policy of looking after facilities that are provided or us and leaving them in a clean state, as long as some responsibel travellers are not discriminated against. Vic

Rhe whole idea of camping in showgrounds go back to the sixties , long before the Caravan parks became the norm, if you only wanted to sleep in a tent for a night or two close to all the facilities you were used to, in those days it was free as you needed very little and the toilets eetc were left open as there was no vandalism like there is today Even in the late 90s I was free camping in them, albiet no one was aware ,( or cared at the time ) Was in Stanthorpe early in the year in 2004 and saw a whole lot in there showgrounds at the time , appeared to be backpackers along with a few RVs and vans, and was told I had to apply at the council offices for a site, if it becomes Eliteist as you suggest Vic who the hell is going to pay for the people to check each vehicle for a label, Sorta defeats the purpose of making dollars for the local council

Hi Mike and Judy, I think the councils are being lobbied to check them via their Rangers or in towns Parking Inspectors etc. I think this is going to cause a lot of friction among caravanners, those who have the stickers and those who don't etc. Granny's idea of maybe an independent lobby group may be a good one if enough people come on board (non club members or others who are responsible but do not have a sticker etc). I don't think Grey Nomads would be big enough to do this on their own, perhaps a group (eg: suggested name only) "Independant RV Owners & Users Association" who could lobby councils etc to make sure those not in a club get a fair go as well in regards to camping at roadside stops, showgrounds, ovals and where towns allow overnighters in town. Perhaps they could display their own environmental type compliance or Association sticker, will repost this on Basil's idea post as well. Vic

We don't have to have any label to speak up. The Grey Nomads "label" is a voice on its own which I have determined has a lot of respect and support. No association or club has any credibility of the members don't believe in what they're doing. The ovals and show grounds space is often used as overflow areas in busy times. Most towns now have some sort of formal caravan park run by the shire or privately. What is it about these stickers you speak of Vic? Do we have to have sticker of any kind to "prove" who we are? Surely the vehicle and rig would be evidence enough. The Grey Nomads sticker is only to identify those of us who share the friendship this wonderful site, where we share our experiences and observations while on the road or camping. I'm not talking about any lobby group. If we have some issue we believe could be resolved we gather support and forward our recommendation to the relevant body responsible for the topic at the time. It's the strength of numbers on GN we should be counting on. Have faith in yourselves.

It seems we have two threads converging on the same subject, Ken, I think if Madam really pulls that out of the bag she'll be stuffed well and truly as it would involve more than she thinks,it would restrict a lot of the interstate traffic Saying that , ---we pay taxes for rego, and d/licence etc, why not hit them as well Truckers have a label which covers all states, why not for the nomads/wanderers

Whatever happened to the "Grey nomads.Reading through the posts in recent times it seems to me that we are being treated as though nomading is something that is new to us all.Pesonally I dont give a stuff about other caravan,touring,you name it sites.If I wanted to to know about other sites I would search the IN.for them .tobe constantly refered to other sites is a bit of a dowwner to me.If you dont like the Grey Nomads,so be it.Keep your observations about other sites to your selves.To me this is the Grey nomads friendly,informative,site.hate me or love me but sometimes i think that we are being taken over.Having got that off my chest.I write this without any disrespect to the views or opinions of others.I am first and formost a supporter of the Grey Nomads.Cheers.Ibbo.

yep I agree with that Ibbo, the grey nomad site should stand as a beacon on it's own merit and not just as a reference point to other less freindly forums I say stop the chatter about doing this and doing that and just start polling your local member or council for more rights for the traveller or whatever it is that is bothering whichever individual I am at ours all the time to gain more goodys for travellers, this I do quietly but effectively, and I have gained quite a bit with nothing more than dogged persistance for instance I just got our local fuel station (Perry's) to allow travellers to fill up their water tanks for free if they purchase fuel, wasnt easy but it is done, seemed a simple thing at first but more complex than can be imagined

I'b with Ibbo on this one too.  This is where I want to be, this is where I get my information, this is where we make friends and help each other.