Recently I happened into a sizable town that had recently hosted a major caravan conference and was surprised at the ill feeling held by a lot of locals towards the event.
Apparently Council , shop keepers , local clubs mangers, and small organizations were told by the event organizing committee that this event would bring many tourist dollars to the town. Based on that Council provided extra power out lets put in additional ablution blocks laid paths and hard stands and all the other facilities necessary to make the event a success.
To date according to locals they are still waiting for this flood of tourist dollars . Sad to say they have all vowed never again to put up their hand host such groups again.
Unfortunately this is not an isolated case and the word was out in local government circles of the lack of return , so if towns to host Grey Nomad events are hard to come by in the future we have no one to blame but ourselves for not been good community members . We need to bear in mind that all the facilities provided by local council are paid for by the local ratepayer and not the fees you pay to attend the event.
brickies said
08:17 PM Jan 30, 2015
We have a 130 lt. fridge in our caravan and no other fridge like an Engel , We buy all our supplies in the towns we visit and like visiting the local butcher , But when talking to other on the road they say they have the freezer full of food they buy in the bigger city to save money . And then I see lots of people talking about the money they spend in small towns.
Radar said
08:31 PM Jan 30, 2015
How true Brickies.
How many times do we read that our forum people have a 12 volt portable freezer going all the time.
They shop in larger centres to save money. I really don't blame them.
I try to spend small amounts as it not so notable on the pocket at the time
From my own experience buying a couple of nights meat here and there at smaller towns has left us with great memories but we are out there to enjoy ourselves with minimal cost at the same time.
jules47 said
08:37 PM Jan 30, 2015
We have been into town ( Blayney, NSW) three times since we have been staying out at Carcour Dam, 10k away.
In those three times, we have spent $195.00, total - nx that is $65.00 each time, not bad I reckon. This was spent in supermarket, cafe, chemist, and good pub lunch.
brickies said
08:44 PM Jan 30, 2015
Spent a lot of time in western Queensland last year and found the best meat in Cunnamulla and at prices better than the big supermarkets ,We think it better to spend money in local towns than spend big money on portable freezers and extra battery power to run them and extra weight to carry around with you .
elliemike said
09:10 PM Jan 30, 2015
Wombat 280 wrote:
Recently I happened into a sizable town that had recently hosted a major caravan conference and was surprised at the ill feeling held by a lot of locals towards the event.
Apparently Council , shop keepers , local clubs mangers, and small organizations were told by the event organizing committee that this event would bring many tourist dollars to the town. Based on that Council provided extra power out lets put in additional ablution blocks laid paths and hard stands and all the other facilities necessary to make the event a success.
To date according to locals they are still waiting for this flood of tourist dollars . Sad to say they have all vowed never again to put up their hand host such groups again.
Unfortunately this is not an isolated case and the word was out in local government circles of the lack of return , so if towns to host Grey Nomad events are hard to come by in the future we have no one to blame but ourselves for not been good community members . We need to bear in mind that all the facilities provided by local council are paid for by the local ratepayer and not the fees you pay to attend the event.
This sounds like poor management to me.
Not the the Campers at fault here. The council maybe the problem
You have to have a return on any investment, These are permanent improvements to a facility to cater for a function attracting a large group. Benefits in revenue and business transactions can be very lucrative. Tamworth springs to mind. Adding infrastructure to cater for a one off event (e.g. Olympic Games) and gaining better facilities for the ongoing benefit of the community is not a new idea. It's a good business practice. Like any project, investment, it needs to be researched to forecast what the possible cash flow into the town would be. Also the ongoing return on the investment over two years at least.
I am sure someone would have also looked at the ongoing usage of the facilities and forecast the income that could be gained from it.
Would a council just take the word of a function organiser ! I wouldn't. The ratepayers should be looking for bum or two to kick.
-- Edited by elliemike on Friday 30th of January 2015 09:14:22 PM
Wombat 280 said
09:16 PM Jan 30, 2015
I think the point is that when Van Clubs organize large scale events those attending spend very little in town finding they have all their entertainment and coffee shop fixes provided on site or bring their own with them.
Purely for food safety reasons I carry no perishable foods with me preferring to pick it up my daily needs as a pass through town or after I've settled in if near water i like to try my hand at catch and kill my own.
moamajohn said
11:43 AM Jan 31, 2015
Funny how some towns just have a mind set.In another life I was asked to organise a rally at Harcourt Vic.We rang the shire and said @ 200 Harleys /300 folk for 48hrs.Wonderful ! they said.Rang the pub to supply all the booze ...not interested.!The local catering had no interest in dinner and brekky.So it was outsourced to Bendigo for Grog,rubbish skips and security.I rang the local Lions club and they said yes please ,we can feed you,and boy was it great !$ 5000 went to Lions and the rest went nowhere local .Yet we gave the wineries real support both days and every member was told not to go near the pub !! John
Bruce and Bev said
12:45 PM Jan 31, 2015
Mike. You've hit the nail head on - revenue should exceed expenditure in any business activity. including councils and govts (although we know that usually doesn't happen)
We really don't know much about the background to the disaster wombat outlines. Either the council was really stupid and do indeed need more than some butt kicking, or they have a long term plan to get their ROI by now having a good CP. But if the latter is the case, they have done a very bed job of communicating it to their ratepayers who just think a lot of money went down the dunny and blame anyone in a tent or RV that comes into their town.
Happywanderer said
12:53 PM Jan 31, 2015
A couple of years back when I was living in Biggenden, there was a CMCA Solo's Rally held at the showgrounds there. The local ladies club catered all the meals in the showgrounds hall.
The town made a killing with the local hairdresser doing very well and the Op Shop even stayed open on the Sunday. Said that weekend was the best takings they had in a very long time.
These small towns need to embrace any rally coming to town, it benefits both sides.
Cloak said
01:08 PM Jan 31, 2015
Sounds like their expectations were set too high.
D and D said
05:02 PM Jan 31, 2015
A single event doesn't represent all that's happening out there in RV land and there are also examples of the opposite -
HOW OFTEN DO WE HEAR ????
You have no doubt heard the story that freedom campers do not spend much money and that they are not worth much, tourism wise, to a community. Even a certain CP association's research claim we only spend about 1/3 as much as those that camp in their CPs. Well just saw this post on the CMCA's FB page from a camper who attended the Maroochydore school club camp site over the Christmas school holiday break (6 weeks). Guess you can form your own opinion. Even heard one camper bought a new car while camping there.
"WOW WHAT A GREAT RESULT. I have been talking to the caretaker at Maroochydore School . Rob told me that the total of the shopper dockets during the Christmas period was $104041.00 and camping fees amounted to $15123.00 by CMCA members"
Wombats' original post referred to a 'caravan conferance' that sounds more like an industry chin wag than anything else.....my little motorhome has a 90 ltr fridge, I shop on a regular basis! Not a drinker but coffee shops and bakeries do all right out of me, as do pet food outlets, op shops (especially Vinnies as I volunteer with them and love meeting with others) and maybe I will have the odd meal out......and of course I need fuel and gas tank refill, all adds up! (and that's without a night or two in a CP if / when I need to.
annie
Ozzie_Traveller said
08:55 AM Feb 1, 2015
G'day all
Okay - and without any of us knowing the 100% facts of the original caravan get-together, it is hard to give a 'best' answer to the issue
However, if the council has spend money with infrastructure as detailed in the OP, then those facilities will have many years of use for both the locals, for daily travellers, and campers ~ so all is not wasted
Perhaps someone in the know can contact whichever council it is and suggest they get in contact with the CMCA and start some negotiations for RV Friendly town status. That could be a welcome start to recovery
As to buying up big and using a freezer when travelling - we do not do that, nor do we recommend it ... as said above, the expense of buying the freezer and the running costs (probably) outweigh the supposed savings from the big smoke
For ourselves, we're in the road for 8-9+ months each year and we're always buying stuff wherever we go, enough for the next few days only ~ so our expenditure is spread all over the place.
Phil
PeterD said
12:27 PM Feb 1, 2015
Wombat 280 wrote:
Recently I happened into a sizable town that had recently hosted a major caravan conference and was surprised at the ill feeling held by a lot of locals towards the event.
Which town are we talking about?
PeterD said
12:40 PM Feb 1, 2015
Ozzie_Traveller wrote:
However, if the council has spend money with infrastructure as detailed in the OP, then those facilities will have many years of use for both the locals, for daily travellers, and campers ~ so all is not wasted
Phil, these facilities are generally portable units, they are brought in to supplement the meagre facilities in the show ground or field day site that the large rallies occupy. I have been to the last 4 NACC national rallies and we shared the costs with the local council for the extra facilities. The CMCA also share the costs of the demountable facilities and they have power facilities that they use to supplement the existing permanent power outlets.
In the 4 rallies I have been to the communities have thanked us for our support of the locals. I think there may have been a bit of sour grapes from selective traders who did not correctly anticipate their market. I was talking to some Ulysses members yesterday and with them the boot is on the other foot, the local traders don't seem to have got their act together be able to supply the bikers needs.
dazren said
09:44 PM Feb 1, 2015
Yep ! I go along with Peter D, ''what town are we talking about, '' As Most Caravan Clubs worth their salt, ! Normally have an Expenditure sheet , that the members fill out, And these figures are collated, and the information is then used to educate both the Members, and The towns visited, ! Our small club branch only consists of approx 18 vans, and on All our musters, we fill in the cost sheets, and the number of $$$$ spent really amazes me at times,
So is it possible wombat 280, ! to name the town, ! and name the club ! otherwise we are al just giving our opinions, ! and these opinions may NOT relate to the Facts of this particular Town, or Club !
Recently I happened into a sizable town that had recently hosted a major caravan conference and was surprised at the ill feeling held by a lot of locals towards the event.
Apparently Council , shop keepers , local clubs mangers, and small organizations were told by the event organizing committee that this event would bring many tourist dollars to the town. Based on that Council provided extra power out lets put in additional ablution blocks laid paths and hard stands and all the other facilities necessary to make the event a success.
To date according to locals they are still waiting for this flood of tourist dollars . Sad to say they have all vowed never again to put up their hand host such groups again.
Unfortunately this is not an isolated case and the word was out in local government circles of the lack of return , so if towns to host Grey Nomad events are hard to come by in the future we have no one to blame but ourselves for not been good community members . We need to bear in mind that all the facilities provided by local council are paid for by the local ratepayer and not the fees you pay to attend the event.
How true Brickies.
How many times do we read that our forum people have a 12 volt portable freezer going all the time.
They shop in larger centres to save money. I really don't blame them.
I try to spend small amounts as it not so notable on the pocket at the time
From my own experience buying a couple of nights meat here and there at smaller towns has left us with great memories but we are out there to enjoy ourselves with minimal cost at the same time.
In those three times, we have spent $195.00, total - nx that is $65.00 each time, not bad I reckon. This was spent in supermarket, cafe, chemist, and good pub lunch.
-- Edited by elliemike on Friday 30th of January 2015 09:14:22 PM
Purely for food safety reasons I carry no perishable foods with me preferring to pick it up my daily needs as a pass through town or after I've settled in if near water i like to try my hand at catch and kill my own.
We really don't know much about the background to the disaster wombat outlines. Either the council was really stupid and do indeed need more than some butt kicking, or they have a long term plan to get their ROI by now having a good CP. But if the latter is the case, they have done a very bed job of communicating it to their ratepayers who just think a lot of money went down the dunny and blame anyone in a tent or RV that comes into their town.
The town made a killing with the local hairdresser doing very well and the Op Shop even stayed open on the Sunday. Said that weekend was the best takings they had in a very long time.
These small towns need to embrace any rally coming to town, it benefits both sides.
HOW OFTEN DO WE HEAR ????
You have no doubt heard the story that freedom campers do not spend much money and that they are not worth much, tourism wise, to a community. Even a certain CP association's research claim we only spend about 1/3 as much as those that camp in their CPs. Well just saw this post on the CMCA's FB page from a camper who attended the Maroochydore school club camp site over the Christmas school holiday break (6 weeks). Guess you can form your own opinion. Even heard one camper bought a new car while camping there.
"WOW WHAT A GREAT RESULT. I have been talking to the caretaker at Maroochydore School . Rob told me that the total of the shopper dockets during the Christmas period was $104041.00 and camping fees amounted to $15123.00 by CMCA members"
You can check it out here www.facebook.com/CampervanandMotorhomeClubOfAustral
www.facebook.com/Freechoicecamping
annie
Okay - and without any of us knowing the 100% facts of the original caravan get-together, it is hard to give a 'best' answer to the issue
However, if the council has spend money with infrastructure as detailed in the OP, then those facilities will have many years of use for both the locals, for daily travellers, and campers ~ so all is not wasted
Perhaps someone in the know can contact whichever council it is and suggest they get in contact with the CMCA and start some negotiations for RV Friendly town status. That could be a welcome start to recovery
As to buying up big and using a freezer when travelling - we do not do that, nor do we recommend it ... as said above, the expense of buying the freezer and the running costs (probably) outweigh the supposed savings from the big smoke
For ourselves, we're in the road for 8-9+ months each year and we're always buying stuff wherever we go, enough for the next few days only ~ so our expenditure is spread all over the place.
Phil
Which town are we talking about?
Phil, these facilities are generally portable units, they are brought in to supplement the meagre facilities in the show ground or field day site that the large rallies occupy. I have been to the last 4 NACC national rallies and we shared the costs with the local council for the extra facilities. The CMCA also share the costs of the demountable facilities and they have power facilities that they use to supplement the existing permanent power outlets.
In the 4 rallies I have been to the communities have thanked us for our support of the locals. I think there may have been a bit of sour grapes from selective traders who did not correctly anticipate their market. I was talking to some Ulysses members yesterday and with them the boot is on the other foot, the local traders don't seem to have got their act together be able to supply the bikers needs.
So is it possible wombat 280, ! to name the town, ! and name the club ! otherwise we are al just giving our opinions, ! and these opinions may NOT relate to the Facts of this particular Town, or Club !