I feel sorry for the caravan park owners,, Like hell I do. When we were in Alice Springs we paid $38 a night for a week. I was not aware of the showground until we were ready to move on. The show ground was $25 a night, for the same services.
Bruce and Bev said
06:44 PM Jul 24, 2015
it always amuses me how CP's whine when this sort of thing happens.
They are no different to other businesses. Compete, or go out of business. Not having, or closing down your competition, went out the door many years ago. Just seems CP owners haven't worked that out yet............
Roving-Dutchy said
07:14 PM Jul 24, 2015
I'm sure that you wouldn't be very happy if you were a business owner and a competitor opened up in competition against you, this new competitor pays no rates, no taxes, no land tax and did not have to obtain any loan money to set up the business that opened up against you and also has the power to set the charges and rates that are levied against you.
It seems that the majority of complainers here, have never had to compete in the market place, they have had a job that grants them sick leave, holidays, long service leave, compassionate leave, parental leave and now they are retired complain incessantly about those that are try to run a business in a very competitive market.
These money grabbing business people work 16 hour days, 7 days a week with no holidays , sick leave etc and then have the audacity to charge a reasonable fee for the use of the facilities that are provided and if they get it wrong they lose the lot and go bankrupt, with many years of hard work all lost.
There seems to be many posters here that are just a mob of whingers and complain incessantly about how hard things are as they travel around
Cheers
David
madaboutled said
07:26 PM Jul 24, 2015
In an industry that is not regulated like the caranan park industry, how can any other business or organisation undercut another business or organisation?
Without regulation, Caravan Parks can charge what the hell they like and ussually do. There's no regulation saying what the minimum or maximum is, so they ussually pluck a high figure out of thin air, then go with that and have no regard if people can afford it or not. So, saying that a government run showground is undercutting them is total BS.
When is the Caravan Park industry going to realise that most of us just want a no frills site at an affordable rate.
KFT said
09:28 PM Jul 24, 2015
Of course there was no mention of the millions of taxpayer dollars that go to caravan parks every year in "grants". Grants that the showgrounds are not eligible to bid for.
03_Troopy said
10:34 AM Jul 25, 2015
Geez, I didn't know about the showgrounds either. We usually pay $55.00 per night for a week up there for a powered site with ensuite. But it's kind of necessary because we are there for the week leading up to and over Queen's Birthday weekend. We generally have to book 6 months in advanced to be sure of getting a spot.
done dreaming said
11:02 AM Jul 25, 2015
I had my own business for 25 yrs where i had to compete with government departments like the public trustee and defence housing authority.I didn't complain about the competition,i focused on providing better service at the same price and low and behold my business increased.
Goldfinger said
11:37 AM Jul 25, 2015
The ABC <or it may have been a Commercial Station> just had a news item on that owner with him sniffling and complaining about having to compete.....couldn't have been seen doing anything worse at the time....he chose to move his luxurious deck chairs round the sparkling blue pool.....another overcapitalised Caravan Park that just doesn't get it....Grey Nomads don't generally want all that crapppp...we want security..and very basic facilities/needs at a fair/reasonable price.....why should we subsidise/pay for his overcapitalisation...he has already had the taxation advantages of the big spends....if he is catering to the well heeled who want all the bells and whistles...why also attempt to corner/monopolise the other end of the market...us!
When I had my business I had to meet the market...meaning I had to provide what the customer wanted...not attempt to create a monopoly and tell them what they would receive and what they would pay...without regards to their needs/wants.....they really don't get it......the customer is not always right, but the customer ALWAYS remains the customer.....Hoo Roo
-- Edited by Goldfinger on Saturday 25th of July 2015 11:43:06 AM
exa41 said
06:27 PM Jul 25, 2015
We were in Alice for a week recently and didn't even know where the CP was,don't need jumping castles,kiddies playgrounds or any of there other crap.just a nice quiet spot to stay ,which the showgrounds do quite well.private caravan run by councilors should be outlawed.
03_Troopy said
11:06 AM Jul 26, 2015
LOL exa, there are plenty of caravan parks in Alice. Usually in the direction of those blue and white signs with a caravan on it.
03_Troopy said
12:19 PM Jul 26, 2015
Just read in the solos that they are charging $30.00 a night for the showgrounds now anyway. Better off in a caravan park at that price.
Santa said
01:11 PM Jul 26, 2015
We always stay at the Temple Bar van park when in Alice Springs, Quiet, scenic setting in the Western Mac Donell ranges and dog friendly, last time we stayed there from memory $20 per night.
Temple Bar Caravan Park
875 Ilparpa Rd, Alice Springs (08) 8952 2533
From the south: turn off the Stuart Hwy left into Ilparpa Road just after the Transport Hall of Fame
From the north: turn right into Ilparpa Road about 2 km after Heavitree Gap.
Now, were going to tell you about two Alice Springs caravan parks that are next door to each other, set in secluded bushland locations. I love these two because theyre quiet and DARK at night time. You actually get to see the incredible outback sky at night as it should be seen rather than seeing it discoloured by floodlights.
Temple Bar Caravan Park is dog-friendly, basic and clean. You wont find playgrounds, huge camp kitchens or TV rooms and activities here. What you get instead is blissful peace, bushland and amazing views of the MacDonnell Ranges and the Temple Bar Range.
And no bloody lights at night.
Seriously, we would recommend this caravan park over all others because of the PEACE and ability to see real stars at night instead of crazy floodlights.
Facilities: large shady sites, amenities block, wildlife, great scenery, bushwalks, pet-friendly, laundry.
Cost: $18 per night for a powered site (a bargain!)
Whats bad: Its out of town: 11 km south of Alice Springs.
Suitable for: pet owners, people who want peace and quiet, budget-conscious travellers
Ozzie_Traveller said
01:51 PM Jul 26, 2015
G'day all
The fella getting all the air time on the tv and in the local rag is Councillor Brendan Heenan, the owner of one of the largest caravan parks in Alice Springs
He has been on this vendetta for months & months
As well as owner / manager of this large caravan park, he is on the Alice Springs town council and is head of the NT Caravan Parks Association
So- the 64-thousand-dollar question. .... does he have a conflict of interest in this matter???????
You know the answer as well as I do
Regrettably Cr Heenan is typical of so many caravan park owners around Australia - they look up the road and see 100 caravanners coming into town and believe that all 100 of them MUST become their customers ... and if they choose not to be a customer, then wherever they do bed down for the night needs to be closed down
The biggest pity here is that the ABC web site giving out this story refuses to accept any message to the contrary. What's fair for one side of the discussion should be open to the other side to offer a differing point of view, but we as a group are unable to do so - thus we have to do it on these and similar pages [thank you Cindy, & GN forum]
Phil
madaboutled said
07:40 PM Jul 26, 2015
Ozzie_Traveller wrote:
The biggest pity here is that the ABC web site giving out this story refuses to accept any message to the contrary. What's fair for one side of the discussion should be open to the other side to offer a differing point of view, but we as a group are unable to do so - thus we have to do it on these and similar pages [thank you Cindy, & GN forum]
Phil
Phil, they have a Facebook page, If you use FB just search ABC alice springs you'll find the story if you scroll down a bit on the page. I just copy/pasted my comment to the story comments. Interestingly, at the time of my posting there was only 18 other comments, obviously ABC doesn't advertise the fact they're on facebook.
"That's Right" Blame the Grey Nomads, Not your prices !!!
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-07-24/government-showgrounds-undercutting-alice-springs-caravan-parks/6646320
LONG LIVE SHOWGROUNDS
k.j.
Bad Luck !!!
They are no different to other businesses. Compete, or go out of business. Not having, or closing down your competition, went out the door many years ago. Just seems CP owners haven't worked that out yet............
It seems that the majority of complainers here, have never had to compete in the market place, they have had a job that grants them sick leave, holidays, long service leave, compassionate leave, parental leave and now they are retired complain incessantly about those that are try to run a business in a very competitive market.
These money grabbing business people work 16 hour days, 7 days a week with no holidays , sick leave etc and then have the audacity to charge a reasonable fee for the use of the facilities that are provided and if they get it wrong they lose the lot and go bankrupt, with many years of hard work all lost.
There seems to be many posters here that are just a mob of whingers and complain incessantly about how hard things are as they travel around
Cheers
David
In an industry that is not regulated like the caranan park industry, how can any other business or organisation undercut another business or organisation?
Without regulation, Caravan Parks can charge what the hell they like and ussually do. There's no regulation saying what the minimum or maximum is, so they ussually pluck a high figure out of thin air, then go with that and have no regard if people can afford it or not. So, saying that a government run showground is undercutting them is total BS.
When is the Caravan Park industry going to realise that most of us just want a no frills site at an affordable rate.
I had my own business for 25 yrs where i had to compete with government departments like the public trustee and defence housing authority.I didn't complain about the competition,i focused on providing better service at the same price and low and behold my business increased.
The ABC <or it may have been a Commercial Station> just had a news item on that owner with him sniffling and complaining about having to compete.....couldn't have been seen doing anything worse at the time....he chose to move his luxurious deck chairs round the sparkling blue pool.....another overcapitalised Caravan Park that just doesn't get it....Grey Nomads don't generally want all that crapppp...we want security..and very basic facilities/needs at a fair/reasonable price.....why should we subsidise/pay for his overcapitalisation...he has already had the taxation advantages of the big spends....if he is catering to the well heeled who want all the bells and whistles...why also attempt to corner/monopolise the other end of the market...us!
When I had my business I had to meet the market...meaning I had to provide what the customer wanted...not attempt to create a monopoly and tell them what they would receive and what they would pay...without regards to their needs/wants.....they really don't get it......the customer is not always right, but the customer ALWAYS remains the customer.....Hoo Roo
-- Edited by Goldfinger on Saturday 25th of July 2015 11:43:06 AM
We always stay at the Temple Bar van park when in Alice Springs, Quiet, scenic setting in the Western Mac Donell ranges and dog friendly, last time we stayed there from memory $20 per night.
Temple Bar Caravan Park
875 Ilparpa Rd, Alice Springs (08) 8952 2533
From the south: turn off the Stuart Hwy left into Ilparpa Road just after the Transport Hall of Fame
From the north: turn right into Ilparpa Road about 2 km after Heavitree Gap.
Now, were going to tell you about two Alice Springs caravan parks that are next door to each other, set in secluded bushland locations. I love these two because theyre quiet and DARK at night time. You actually get to see the incredible outback sky at night as it should be seen rather than seeing it discoloured by floodlights.
Temple Bar Caravan Park is dog-friendly, basic and clean. You wont find playgrounds, huge camp kitchens or TV rooms and activities here. What you get instead is blissful peace, bushland and amazing views of the MacDonnell Ranges and the Temple Bar Range.
And no bloody lights at night.
Seriously, we would recommend this caravan park over all others because of the PEACE and ability to see real stars at night instead of crazy floodlights.
Facilities: large shady sites, amenities block, wildlife, great scenery, bushwalks, pet-friendly, laundry.
Cost: $18 per night for a powered site (a bargain!)
Whats bad: Its out of town: 11 km south of Alice Springs.
Suitable for: pet owners, people who want peace and quiet, budget-conscious travellers
The fella getting all the air time on the tv and in the local rag is Councillor Brendan Heenan, the owner of one of the largest caravan parks in Alice Springs
He has been on this vendetta for months & months
As well as owner / manager of this large caravan park, he is on the Alice Springs town council and is head of the NT Caravan Parks Association
So- the 64-thousand-dollar question. .... does he have a conflict of interest in this matter???????
You know the answer as well as I do
Regrettably Cr Heenan is typical of so many caravan park owners around Australia - they look up the road and see 100 caravanners coming into town and believe that all 100 of them MUST become their customers ... and if they choose not to be a customer, then wherever they do bed down for the night needs to be closed down
The biggest pity here is that the ABC web site giving out this story refuses to accept any message to the contrary. What's fair for one side of the discussion should be open to the other side to offer a differing point of view, but we as a group are unable to do so - thus we have to do it on these and similar pages [thank you Cindy, & GN forum]
Phil
Phil, they have a Facebook page, If you use FB just search ABC alice springs you'll find the story if you scroll down a bit on the page. I just copy/pasted my comment to the story comments. Interestingly, at the time of my posting there was only 18 other comments, obviously ABC doesn't advertise the fact they're on facebook.
Regards Steve.