Looks like things are being stirred about free campers guys.

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http://www.ntnews.com.au//article/2010/06/02/152361_ntnews.html

I bet that's a load of crap about caravan parks losing money.... They just want to increase the demand so that they can charge sky high prices in the tourist season. Park owners are setting up more and more cabins and villas on what were previously caravan sites and no doubt this must make good business sense for them or they wouldn't do it, but it means less spaces for us. The article states that there is a 24 hour restriction on the rest areas so this is a good compromise and if the park owners weren't just greedy b*st*rds they would be satisfied with this. Also it is not the government's job to protect their business. The main industries in the NT are tourism and welfare and tourism is the only one that produces anything so that any steps to restrict that industry would have a serious impact on their economy. I accept that there is a major flaw in that last statement as it implies that the government would use common sense.....silly me!

Morning Everyone, Have no problems with free camping - we ourselves will be doingit once we get our 'act' together later in the year and we go full time 'on the road', but what gets up our nose and undoubtely the noses of park owners is when motorhomes in particular free-park in the parking bays at our local boat ramp for the night - this is right in front of a caravan park!!!!! These are the people who make it bad for the rest of us who do do the right thing.

Pejay wrote:

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Morning Everyone,

Have no problems with free camping - we ourselves will be doingit once we get our 'act' together later in the year and we go full time 'on the road', but what gets up our nose and undoubtely the noses of park owners is when motorhomes in particular free-park in the parking bays at our local boat ramp for the night - this is right in front of a caravan park!!!!! These are the people who make it bad for the rest of us who do do the right thing.

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I can't disagree you on that one,  those who use day-only areas or boat ramp parks should be moved on or hit with a parking fine or both.  Also cars and RVs (including caravans) that use spaces set aside for boat trailer parking whether camping or not.  I could  stand corrected on this, but I think that in Queensland free (roadside)  camping is generally not permitted within 10 kms of a major town,  this is only fair.

 

if the cps could have maybe similar prices right around australia , that would be great, I'd rather visit cps than free camp.. why not support the cps?

This debate has been hanging around for years. If the caravan operator is a councillor, or in Broome's case, the Mayor, then the pressure is really on. In places which become packed in peak season there often is no option but to go free camping. I'm sure there are still more using van parks than camping overall. I know there are lots free camping, the option is always there to van park. The issue of price is a very relevant one. They charge far too much for a patch of dirt or grass and the use of a bathroom. To have to pay more than $30 per night is criminal, but it's becoming the common rate, or in Broome, $40 or more. I don't think there's any consumer control over these charges yet, but I think it's time the Prices and Consumers had a look at it. Private and council parks need to be looked at. What is the customer getting for their money? A patch of dirt, a slab of concrete and a dunny, with power. No one would ever use $40 worth of power and facilities in a 24-hr period. Here in Cairns they pay enormous rates, and the customer is expected to help with those expenses. Fair enough, that's what business is all about. But here it almost feels like a penalty for parking in their paddock. There's nothing flash here. The roads are all broken up, the facilities are old but neat and clean. There's a pool which is too cold to swim in this time of the year, and there's a playground for any kids. I don't know how those charges are costed and set, but it confuses me. And as Jim says, they're reducing van sites for the higher-maintenance, higher-paying cabins. It's tough being a Nomad.

Caravan park owners need a lesson in simple maths as they are the cause of people free camping where possible.
If you average park fees @ $30 a night you would be doing well as some are 70 in the peak,
$30x 7=210 .[unless its been changed.]
Average pension is about $250. leaves a $40  difference, I would like see a c/p manager buy a car/van/motor home etc plus running & living costs on $40 a week .
If they are smart enough to do this then why are they running a c/p .?
Every cabin takes two van spaces & they still want all vanerrs in the parks , have they worked out where they are going to put everyone?
Think its time they opened their eyes to the real world.  

In a free market economy running a Caravan park is like any other business in that it's supply and demand that set's the prices. It is not the job of ACCC or any other government agency to apply price controls to this or any other industry any more than it's their job to protect the income of the CP owners. Unfortunately in the real world if the local CP owner is also a councilor (especially mayor) one would be entitled to suspect that he/she may exert some influence on council policies in this area. As I said earlier in this thread I think having a time limit is an appropriate compromise. It also benefits the free camp users as it stops longer term stayers from "hogging" the campsites.

I agree Jim when we travelled to W.A. we came to a free camp site and one person had stayed there for 6 weeks as his car had broken down and he had to pay for it on his credit card, he reckons he was staying there until he could pay his credit card off the mind boggles. Helena.

The time limit is the way to go for sure.

I noticed the same last trip with the CP changing so dramatically and good on them for grabbing an opportunity. But they no longer have their eye on the ball as far as Nomads go.

I think there's another issue that contaminates us good folk and that being the backpacker in the hired RV that couldn't give two hoots about doing the right thing. They're not here for a long time, just a good time and stuff anyone or anything that may be in their vicinity. They have no concern for the environment around them, abuse privileges and rarely use van parks. But I have seen them camp outside a park then jump the fence to use the facilities and think it's their right to do so. Take a drive along beach fronts anywhere and you will see what I mean. To them rest areas are just somewhere to unload all the rubbish out of the vehicle including the black water. Sorry, but I haven't met to many 'nice' backpackers doing the right thing out there if you know what I mean... Cheers & beers

Hitman wrote: ...'Sorry, but I haven't met to many 'nice' backpackers doing the right thing out there if you know what I mean..' That's sad, Hitman -- we've met so many great 'Wicked' and other campers/backpackers on the road between Brisbane and Perth; maybe all the 'bad' ones only hang around certain coastal beaches! Andrea

bring on all the free camps we can i say, and thats all i say ,its great to stop and have a nice hot shower now and again ,but then again you can do that in some petrol stations for a fee of two dollars, nope lost me, all the more free camping places or in the outback just off sides of road where ever its looking good to set up is good for me, always has been .