I submitted a letter (put out by CMCA) against some of the changes and laws, staying on someones property has always been a popular thing to do when travelling, some are friends, others relations.
How is it going to be policed? That is a relevant question, for one. We are totally self sufficient, all we need is a safe place to park up for a while, as we travel round and look at things in the area. Today we went on the train to Perth, and spent about $200. Tomorrow maybe Fremantle. If we weren't staying on a friends front yard, (5 accres) and used our little car to get around, we would not see so much, nor spend as much money. We love our friends who invite us to stay.
justcruisin01 said
09:12 PM Oct 16, 2015
Looks like WA is on a suicide mission.
JC
kiwijims said
11:01 PM Oct 16, 2015
After reading through all of the proposed regulation changes,
It stinks of an attempt by people in the Caravan park Business, trying to make it impossible, to camp anywhere except in their Parks.
A great way to stop all travellers visiting W.A.
Another attempt to try and maximise the profits of a greedy few, at the expense of many.
As far as I'm concerned, they can stick their regulations, this is supposed to be a free Country and owned by the people,
LET'S KEEP IT THAT WAY !!!
K.J.
dorian said
09:27 AM Oct 17, 2015
How does parking a caravan or motorhome on a friend's driveaway for a few days impact on the local ambience any more than the owners of the property parking their own caravan in the same place, or does that require a permit, too?
Tones said
10:47 AM Oct 17, 2015
With RV clubs promoting member stopovers and park on property schemes, it was only a matter of time before there was a reaction by Government. The Government is only reacting to the lobbying of the Parks because of the new initiatives being driven by the RV Clubs. In other words, the member stopovers and POP arrangements will have to comply with the same requirements as commercial properties. This is something that will spread across Australia in due course. The only way to beat this is to leave WA out of the loop. Save 10,000Kms on the big one (half the distance) and, at 25 cents / Km average diesel cost, save about $2,500 and have a better holiday in the eastern and middle parts of this great country. The only way to stop this stupidity is to vote with dollars.
In the meantime, I will be the one turning right at Pt. Augusta or left at Darwin.
Safe motoring,
Tones
woolman said
12:33 PM Oct 17, 2015
The issue of camping in someones drive way. If you don't cook and shower in the van then you are not camping, just parking. Now that will cause some frustration for those nosey neighbours that report you to council. I don't believe that anyone will notice if someone is camping on a 200ha farm.
The problem is that council can charge for costs involved in issuing and managing a licence. In my experience with councils the fees could well be around a $1000, especially in rural areas. the courts will be filled up even more.
Neil
sufil said
12:39 PM Oct 17, 2015
Modern caravans are designed to be used for "free Camping" with solar power, larger water tanks , bathrooms, some even have grey water storage. You pay large amounts of money for this privelege so why would you want to only stay jammed up in a caravan park with being able to hear every fart and conversation from your neighbour. Yes caravan parks are used by most of us for the occasional night or two and we pay well to use the facilities provided be it catching up on the washing, enjoying that long hot shower, recharging our toys, shopping, doing touristy things. There will always be a place for caravan parks, same as motels, resorts, hotels etc as not every one likes the same sort of holidays or lifestyles.
As for having 3 day limits on staying on private property that is totally ridiculous. Who is going to police that..shire rangers driving around EVERY street/road in Australia every day And if property is large enough for campers to not be seen from the road will they be allowed to drive all over your property looking for campers?...might be good for local shire employment!!
School holidays everywhere will find family groups camping out on friends farms, front and back yards for swimming lessons over summer holidays, family parties. Caravan clubs. pony clubs, kids moto cross are just some of the other groups that will be affected by this law. No more training camp outs for a week, being it on private property or club owned land, teaching kids skills with their bikes and ponies and having a great social activity for the whole family.
I can see that there will be a big back lash from the travelling free camping tourists/lifestylers/nomads whatever you want to call them as they will turn around before they get to the WA border and will spend their money in other states.
Yes,they free camp but they still need fuel, water, vehicle repairs, food, medical stuff, do some tourist trips and lets face it some of those things are once in a lifetime that you would normally not do and you pay dearly for the chance to do it.
We had a camp out here over the school holidays and didn't think in time to ask people to put a record of what the spent in our little district but 2 nights of fish and chips netted our local takeaway nearly $500, that is without the groceries spent in other local shops, the pub, coffee shops, fuel, just daily bread and milk all soon adds up. We live in the middle of a triangle from Lancelin, Yanchep and Gingin and there would have been several thousand dollars went into the economy here over a 2 week period. At $45 a night in our local caravan park (school holidays and summer rates!!) they would have just kept driving and the district would have lost out.
I have sent in a submission to the government as an individual but we all need to do it or it will happen and free camping will be a thing of the past. Or those of us who offer a camping solution to travellers will have to licenced and then be covered by OHS, management plans, etc and have to charge you to cover their costs and there will be restrictions on how many nights you can stay etc.
So Please send in a submission and have your say too.
Santa said
01:44 PM Oct 17, 2015
Apart from the cost of getting to WA from the East coast I found tourism operators in the state to be hungry for every dollar they could get their hands on (I hate being treated like a traveling wallet) free camping in other than road side rest area's is a problem, the rest area's themselves are usually packed by 4PM and are not very pleasant places to stay.
With a few exceptions van parks provided the bare minimum in services and charged top dollar.
We were pleased to reach Kununurra and shortly after cross into the NT, almost like entering a different (and more welcoming) country.
WA? been there done that, won't bother repeating the experience.
baysidetas said
02:02 PM Oct 17, 2015
There is a discussion paper on the webb calling for submissions/comments and the closing date is 30 November.
if you have strong feelings about the various questions raised in the paper the fill out the questionnaire and send it in.
Conversely if you do not respond that it can be claimed that there was little or no opposition to the proposed changes.
I downloaded it and have sent it off making my feelings quite clear.
Brenda and Alan said
02:14 PM Oct 17, 2015
Barrie, where do we find the questionnaire? Brenda.
Weevil said
02:44 PM Oct 17, 2015
Brenda and Alan wrote:
Barrie, where do we find the questionnaire? Brenda.
Gooday,
As an interesting comparison what about UBER, it has just rolled over there top of the Rule Book for the Taxi Industry and they seem pretty powerless to stop it.
Maybe that is what will happen in WA & other States if some of these crazy ideas get into legislation.
Cheers,
Bliss on Wheels.
Bugsy said
11:26 PM Oct 17, 2015
There is a debate going on on Free Choice Camping www.facebook.com/Freechoicecamping and there are links to where you can download drafts of submissions etc. they have to be in by 30th Nov.
BJ from WA said
04:47 PM Oct 18, 2015
Hi and thanks to those who have submitted their concerns to the Dept. of Local Govt in WA. Responses can be emailed to caravan@dlgc.wa.gov.au
See;
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-10-16/unhappy-campers-confusion-over-wa-camping-and-caravanning-rules/6861086
How is it going to be policed? That is a relevant question, for one. We are totally self sufficient, all we need is a safe place to park up for a while, as we travel round and look at things in the area. Today we went on the train to Perth, and spent about $200. Tomorrow maybe Fremantle. If we weren't staying on a friends front yard, (5 accres) and used our little car to get around, we would not see so much, nor spend as much money. We love our friends who invite us to stay.
Looks like WA is on a suicide mission.
JC
After reading through all of the proposed regulation changes,
It stinks of an attempt by people in the Caravan park Business, trying to make it impossible, to camp anywhere except in their Parks.
A great way to stop all travellers visiting W.A.
Another attempt to try and maximise the profits of a greedy few, at the expense of many.
As far as I'm concerned, they can stick their regulations, this is supposed to be a free Country and owned by the people,
LET'S KEEP IT THAT WAY !!!
K.J.
With RV clubs promoting member stopovers and park on property schemes, it was only a matter of time before there was a reaction by Government. The Government is only reacting to the lobbying of the Parks because of the new initiatives being driven by the RV Clubs. In other words, the member stopovers and POP arrangements will have to comply with the same requirements as commercial properties. This is something that will spread across Australia in due course. The only way to beat this is to leave WA out of the loop. Save 10,000Kms on the big one (half the distance) and, at 25 cents / Km average diesel cost, save about $2,500 and have a better holiday in the eastern and middle parts of this great country. The only way to stop this stupidity is to vote with dollars.
In the meantime, I will be the one turning right at Pt. Augusta or left at Darwin.
Safe motoring,
Tones
The issue of camping in someones drive way. If you don't cook and shower in the van then you are not camping, just parking. Now that will cause some frustration for those nosey neighbours that report you to council. I don't believe that anyone will notice if someone is camping on a 200ha farm.
The problem is that council can charge for costs involved in issuing and managing a licence. In my experience with councils the fees could well be around a $1000, especially in rural areas. the courts will be filled up even more.
Neil
As for having 3 day limits on staying on private property that is totally ridiculous. Who is going to police that..shire rangers driving around EVERY street/road in Australia every day And if property is large enough for campers to not be seen from the road will they be allowed to drive all over your property looking for campers?...might be good for local shire employment!!
School holidays everywhere will find family groups camping out on friends farms, front and back yards for swimming lessons over summer holidays, family parties. Caravan clubs. pony clubs, kids moto cross are just some of the other groups that will be affected by this law. No more training camp outs for a week, being it on private property or club owned land, teaching kids skills with their bikes and ponies and having a great social activity for the whole family.
I can see that there will be a big back lash from the travelling free camping tourists/lifestylers/nomads whatever you want to call them as they will turn around before they get to the WA border and will spend their money in other states.
Yes,they free camp but they still need fuel, water, vehicle repairs, food, medical stuff, do some tourist trips and lets face it some of those things are once in a lifetime that you would normally not do and you pay dearly for the chance to do it.
We had a camp out here over the school holidays and didn't think in time to ask people to put a record of what the spent in our little district but 2 nights of fish and chips netted our local takeaway nearly $500, that is without the groceries spent in other local shops, the pub, coffee shops, fuel, just daily bread and milk all soon adds up. We live in the middle of a triangle from Lancelin, Yanchep and Gingin and there would have been several thousand dollars went into the economy here over a 2 week period. At $45 a night in our local caravan park (school holidays and summer rates!!) they would have just kept driving and the district would have lost out.
I have sent in a submission to the government as an individual but we all need to do it or it will happen and free camping will be a thing of the past. Or those of us who offer a camping solution to travellers will have to licenced and then be covered by OHS, management plans, etc and have to charge you to cover their costs and there will be restrictions on how many nights you can stay etc.
So Please send in a submission and have your say too.
Apart from the cost of getting to WA from the East coast I found tourism operators in the state to be hungry for every dollar they could get their hands on (I hate being treated like a traveling wallet) free camping in other than road side rest area's is a problem, the rest area's themselves are usually packed by 4PM and are not very pleasant places to stay.
With a few exceptions van parks provided the bare minimum in services and charged top dollar.
We were pleased to reach Kununurra and shortly after cross into the NT, almost like entering a different (and more welcoming) country.
WA? been there done that, won't bother repeating the experience.
if you have strong feelings about the various questions raised in the paper the fill out the questionnaire and send it in.
Conversely if you do not respond that it can be claimed that there was little or no opposition to the proposed changes.
I downloaded it and have sent it off making my feelings quite clear.
Barrie, where do we find the questionnaire? Brenda.
You should be able to find it on this thread;
http://thegreynomads.activeboard.com/t60997913/wa-holiday-parks-legislation-consultation/
As an interesting comparison what about UBER, it has just rolled over there top of the Rule Book for the Taxi Industry and they seem pretty powerless to stop it.
Maybe that is what will happen in WA & other States if some of these crazy ideas get into legislation.
Cheers,
Bliss on Wheels.
This is the link to the Dept. Local Government:
dlg.wa.gov.au/Content/Legislation/UnderReview/CaravanCampingLegislation/ConsultationPaper2.aspx
This is a link to some notes and sample response which can be submitted as is, but preferable for you to personalise it.
www.cmca.net.au/component/content/article/11-cmca-general-articles/440-caravan-camping-legislation-consultation
This is when we have to be united and stand up as one. If you have any queries you can email me bjmartin@gateway.net.au
Bevin Martin (CMCA State Rep for WA)