Bush camping farm stays have been booming in Australia, giving enterprising farmers the opportunity to earn extra income. But the practice is dying in Victoria after businesses were burned by outdated campsite rules....
PeterX said
06:23 PM Jun 12, 2019
the article ...
Camping on private land: Vic farmers forced to meet caravan park laws
Bush camping farm stays have been booming in Australia, giving enterprising farmers the opportunity to earn extra income. But the practice is dying in Victoria after businesses were burned by outdated campsite rules.
Victorian farmers are not allowed to host campers on their private land unless they comply with regulations made for commercial caravan parks. Picture: Generic
Victorian farmers earning as little as $10 a night from having people camp on their properties must meet the same regulations as commercial caravan parks.
The revelation comes amid heightened calls for an overhaul of current rules slammed by opponents as outdated and the most stringent in the nation to make it easier for farmers to capitalise on the popularity of share economy websites.
Under current Victorian rules, any farmer that makes an income from campers on their properties must provide:
Showers and toilets;
Hot water;
Sewerage or septic systems;
Lit roadways and paths; and
An on-site manager to be on hand during office hours.
The biggest problem is (authorities) make farmers apply (for permits) as if theyre setting up a big caravan park and the reality is in most cases theyre just providing a parking space for a fully contained camper, former farmer and camping website founder James Woodford said.
Mr Woodford, whose company matches camping enthusiasts and those with available land, said while those in cities and towns were benefiting from share economy apps such as Airbnb, farmers were generally missing out, and a more sensible and affordable approach was needed.
He said NSW had an exemption that allowed farmers to have guests camp 60 nights per year and workable primitive camping regulations.
The Queensland Government has adopted a no one-size-fits-all approach, according to a tourism toolkit, which recommends councils create bush camp and basic camping ground standards under planning schemes to encourage commercial investment in new options.
Mr Woodford said of the 256 properties in regional Victoria that had registered on his YouCamp website, just 105 were still in operation because many have been shut down by councils.
Farmers generally receive about $10-$30 a night for campsites.
King Valley farmers John and Sharon Jarrott who had yurts, or large dome-shaped tents, shut down to guests because they didnt meet regulations described the laws as draconian.
You couldnt even get a caravan up the hill but we have to become a caravan park, Ms Jarrott said.
Ms Jarrott said she had spent more than a year and thousands of dollars trying to meet requirements, including $5000 to set up a septic tank, and was just last week given the OK by her local council.
Andy Reid, Hillcrest, has been told by his local council that he cannot rent his small farm out to campers, which he was doing through the website YouCamp. Picture: Dannika Bonser
MORE: REGULATION TANGLES THE TOURISM DREAM
EDITORIAL: FARMERS TIED UP IN RED TAPE
Andy Reid, a hobby farmer at Hillcrest near Ballarat, said he spent $10,000 on a planner and still did not have a permit.
I spent over two years on the application and it was going to cost almost a quarter of a million dollars to share my space with other people and its not worth it, he said.
Victorian Farmers Federation president David Jochinke said while campers travelling to regional areas to experience farm life was a good thing there were safety concerns of being on worksites, which farms are.
The Victorian government is required to undertake a compulsory review of the caravan park regulations this year, but changes, if any, will not come into effect until next year.
If this is becoming a future trend we need to get in front of it. By the sounds of it the review is a good thing, Mr Jochinke said.
Pyrenees mayor and Rural Councils Victoria executive board member Robert Vance, a sheep farmer, said he absolutely believed farmers should have to meet the same regulations as caravan parks.
He said his biggest concern was safety.
A Victorian government spokeswoman told The Weekly Times, local councils are the responsible authority for reviewing planning permits for commercial activities on farming land.
The government said the review of the states regulations would examine camping on private land. Public submissions close June 23.
Olive Oil said
06:43 PM Jun 12, 2019
There's plenty of Bush camping out there on crown land. Who needs to stay on a farm?
deverall11 said
01:35 PM Jun 13, 2019
Olive Oil wrote:
There's plenty of Bush camping out there on crown land. Who needs to stay on a farm?
Not so much the actual location but more about giving the farmers a helping hand
Olive Oil said
06:43 PM Jun 13, 2019
deverall11 wrote:
Olive Oil wrote:
There's plenty of Bush camping out there on crown land. Who needs to stay on a farm?
Not so much the actual location but more about giving the farmers a helping hand
They're not all struggling, lots of them are doing rather well.
Our camp fees for staying on their properties would be a tiny drop in a bucket compared to a bumper harvest or high stock prices at the market saleyards.
Many retired folk overate their importance/contribution to the rural economy.
Plain Truth said
07:08 PM Jun 13, 2019
Olive Oil wrote:
There's plenty of Bush camping out there on crown land. Who needs to stay on a farm?
I think it would be good to have a choice of where to stay. As you said some people staying on crown land at Mays Bend at Bourke had "people rampaging through,stealing property and vandalizing cars and caravans" So paying nominal fee to stay on a farmers property and having security would be a good thing.
-- Edited by Plain Truth on Thursday 13th of June 2019 07:09:24 PM
Hewy54 said
07:24 PM Jun 13, 2019
Olive Oil wrote:
deverall11 wrote:
Olive Oil wrote:
There's plenty of Bush camping out there on crown land. Who needs to stay on a farm?
Not so much the actual location but more about giving the farmers a helping hand
They're not all struggling, lots of them are doing rather well.
Our camp fees for staying on their properties would be a tiny drop in a bucket compared to a bumper harvest or high stock prices at the market saleyards.
Many retired folk overate their importance/contribution to the rural economy.
Are you for real??
Maybe you need to get out to some of these farms and get areal look at how they are going.
HunnyBunny said
10:24 PM Jun 13, 2019
I don't see how this is any different then camping out in the bush or on any river in Aus, there are no facilities out there. As far as saying that most farmers are not struggling, you must be living life with your eyes closed. The farmers have to have water to get bumper crops, that hasn't happened for years. To put crops in costs the farmer thousands of dollars in grain & fuel, there is no guarantee they will reap any harvest, the last few years that has mostly been the case. The water is being that badly managed that a lot of the irrigation farmers are not getting their water allocations. The dairy farmers are doing it pretty damn tough as well. A lot of these farmers have inherited their farms, generations of farmers have farmed the land, it's the only life they know. Unfortunately the way things are going, the Mum & Dad farmers will be a thing of the past. Corporate greed will take over. Climbing down off my soap box now! :)
Eaglemax said
11:12 PM Jun 13, 2019
Just like to say a/ yes many farmers are doing it tough no doubt b/ most of us would have considered ourselves lucky to have the choice of inheriting a viable farm or not accepting it C/ many many other small to medium businesses go under with little or zero help from outside sources.
Tony
Ron-D said
09:10 AM Jun 14, 2019
HunnyBunny wrote:
I don't see how this is any different then camping out in the bush or on any river in Aus, there are no facilities out there. As far as saying that most farmers are not struggling, you must be living life with your eyes closed. The farmers have to have water to get bumper crops, that hasn't happened for years. To put crops in costs the farmer thousands of dollars in grain & fuel, there is no guarantee they will reap any harvest, the last few years that has mostly been the case. The water is being that badly managed that a lot of the irrigation farmers are not getting their water allocations. The dairy farmers are doing it pretty damn tough as well. A lot of these farmers have inherited their farms, generations of farmers have farmed the land, it's the only life they know. Unfortunately the way things are going, the Mum & Dad farmers will be a thing of the past. Corporate greed will take over. Climbing down off my soap box now! :)
Your right hunny bunny why these nit wits get involved and spoil things for people when theres no sense in it at all its an absolute no brainer...
SouthernComfort said
09:35 AM Jun 14, 2019
Olive Oil wrote:
deverall11 wrote:
Olive Oil wrote:
There's plenty of Bush camping out there on crown land. Who needs to stay on a farm?
Not so much the actual location but more about giving the farmers a helping hand
They're not all struggling, lots of them are doing rather well.
Our camp fees for staying on their properties would be a tiny drop in a bucket compared to a bumper harvest or high stock prices at the market saleyards.
Many retired folk overate their importance/contribution to the rural economy.
* Perhaps you'd like to share the exact facts and stats you've cobbled together to arrive at your view that "lots" of farmers are prosperous?
* Yes indeed, I'm sure rural towns would be extremely grateful if we all stopped patronising their businesses
deverall11 said
09:44 AM Jun 14, 2019
Olive Oil wrote:
......
They're not all struggling, lots of them are doing rather well.
Our camp fees for staying on their properties would be a tiny drop in a bucket compared to a bumper harvest or high stock prices at the market saleyards.
Many retired folk overate their importance/contribution to the rural economy.
Sounds like what ever drugs you're on are doing the job....Care to share???
Iva Biggen said
09:46 AM Jun 14, 2019
From what I have seen while moving around I have noted that many farm stays are more costly than a caravan park in the same area.
Many dont have showers or even toilets but rely more on the traveller being self contained.
On the other side of the fence, if councils are so concerned about a farmer providing a service for caravanners then why doesnt councils open up more RV parks which comply. From my observations again a council is quite often very keen to sell off a council owned caravan park to private operators. Many of these ex council parks were in prime areas generally along the coast.
I think many RV travellers are happy to pull up on a farm under the shade of a tree for a couple of days and slip the farmer a few dollars but this once again can be exploited by people on both sides if the opportunity arises.
Greed is a very strong motivator...
Olive Oil said
01:34 PM Jun 14, 2019
SouthernComfort wrote:
Olive Oil wrote:
deverall11 wrote:
Olive Oil wrote:
There's plenty of Bush camping out there on crown land. Who needs to stay on a farm?
Not so much the actual location but more about giving the farmers a helping hand
They're not all struggling, lots of them are doing rather well.
Our camp fees for staying on their properties would be a tiny drop in a bucket compared to a bumper harvest or high stock prices at the market saleyards.
Many retired folk overate their importance/contribution to the rural economy.
* Perhaps you'd like to share the exact facts and stats you've cobbled together to arrive at your view that "lots" of farmers are prosperous?
* Yes indeed, I'm sure rural towns would be extremely grateful if we all stopped patronising their businesses
Watch Landline on ABC TV & listen to the Rural Report on ABC radio every day, it'll open your eyes & mind.
SouthernComfort said
03:35 PM Jun 14, 2019
Olive Oil wrote:
SouthernComfort wrote:
Olive Oil wrote:
deverall11 wrote:
Olive Oil wrote:
There's plenty of Bush camping out there on crown land. Who needs to stay on a farm?
Not so much the actual location but more about giving the farmers a helping hand
They're not all struggling, lots of them are doing rather well.
Our camp fees for staying on their properties would be a tiny drop in a bucket compared to a bumper harvest or high stock prices at the market saleyards.
Many retired folk overate their importance/contribution to the rural economy.
* Perhaps you'd like to share the exact facts and stats you've cobbled together to arrive at your view that "lots" of farmers are prosperous?
* Yes indeed, I'm sure rural towns would be extremely grateful if we all stopped patronising their businesses
Watch Landline on ABC TV & listen to the Rural Report on ABC radio every day, it'll open your eyes & mind.
The ABC is your key point of reference? Oh dear.
Santa said
05:28 PM Jun 14, 2019
Why does almost every thread on this forum turn into a p*ssing contest?
Hewy54 said
05:35 PM Jun 14, 2019
Santa wrote:
Why does almost every thread on this forum turn into a p*ssing contest?
I thought this was more like a discussion that people have on a forum.
People ask for opinions, and give their opinions.
We may disagree, but are free to express views.
Why would this be viewed as a p**ssing contest?
Santa said
05:53 PM Jun 14, 2019
A discussion involves a degree of respect for the other persons opinion, not a lot of respect shown in some of the posts here.
yobarr said
06:45 PM Jun 14, 2019
Santa wrote:
Why does almost every thread on this forum turn into a p*ssing contest?
As always,you make a valuable contribution to the discussion.Cheers
Cupie said
11:41 PM Jun 14, 2019
Dare I make an observation least I get attacked ...
Well who cares. I can always not read the replies I suppose ... & add to my list of those 'nasty' forum members.
I suppose that there are good & perhaps lucky primary producers, just like there are good & perhaps lucky business people. Also lots on the other side of the equation.
Sure some in both camps seem to be doing it hard and others doing very well thank you very much!
I was wandering the main street of Hay recently looking in the windows of the large number of empty & for sale shop fronts. A local of about my age (70+) wandered over & began the conversation by pointing out that I could buy at least half of the street for a pittance & went on to talk about his bad luck. It seems that he couldn't make a go of the local family sheep property & had to sell it to buy one at Ivanhoe for $1m. After a few years that wasn't working out so he had just recently sold it for $3m. Tough hey. (but to be fair, I don't know how much debt he was carrying). Maybe he was the one selling the Hay main street properties. LOL Oh yes, he did mention how the caravanners were an important part of the local economy & that showed with the extensive serviced bush camps on the river side close to town.
Brought to mind a group of ex Wheat farmers from South Australia that I met a few years ago. They got my attention because they were all in top of the range Cruisers pulling brand new gin palaces. They told me that they had been doing it tough, with the seasons not always being favourable to wheat growing, so they individually sold out at a good price to some very large Agricultural Company & were living the dream.
It's sad to see so many country towns in decline but there are still a lot doing very well through it all. A bit like city businesses & employees everywhere too, for that matter.
The wealth gap in (refer Lorenz curve) in this country & perhaps the world, is certainly widening over the last couple of decades.
As far as the OP is concerned, I can see that in this terribly litigious society that we find ourselves in, the 'authorities' are no doubt under some degree of pressure to ensure that all players play by the same rules & that 'customers' interests are 'protected'. Just exclude disruptors like Uber though, hey? LOL.
-- Edited by Cupie on Friday 14th of June 2019 11:42:03 PM
Warren-Pat_01 said
12:06 AM Jun 15, 2019
Hello everyone,
In NSW & Qld there is a website (outbackbeds.com.au/) where travellers can stay on farms & enjoy some good company if you want it &/or the environment that the property covers. They have standards set for accommodation including toilets & showers - the hot water might be bore water. We stayed at Kilcowera near Currawinya NP a few years ago & saw many beautiful birds, flowers & fruit that are found in desolate & hard areas. While we camped in our Eagle camper, we used the facilities in the Shearers' Quarters - the only condition was if we wanted a hot shower, we had to water the lawn first for 30 minutes!
I guess the old standard "park your van down the back" where farmer sees tourists as an extra source of income has backfired for some reason in the past & so governments/councils have had to set standards. We've all heard of things being done on the cheap but someone used to better conditions, complains or someone gets hurt.
---------------
I don't like entering arguments because someone took offence about what someone said.
Olive Oil, I shared your response once before I married a farmer's daughter. Pat's father was killed in a tractor accident & Death Duties were in then! It was thought he was affected by chemicals he was spraying.
I would suggest to you that you try driving north east of Echuca & further on through central NSW & see how many rich farmers you see, how many who have adequate stores of hay & water, those whose stock are well fed on green pastures, etc. These people have been suffering severe drought for years. Last year when we went through there I heard two truckies talking on the CB where one said "Bill, I saw two roos standing on the road & they seemed to say, run over us, mate as we have nothing to eat or drink out here". The land was pitiful, how the graziers made money, I don't know. I would guess that they were up to their necks in debt to the banks. And into NE NSW where drought was extremely rare - there was nothing except cow pats in the paddocks - did the cattle eat them? I don't know as there was nothing else!
You would have to be both blind & deaf to ignore the plight of the dairy farmers down your way who were affected by the cheap $1 a litre milk, as well as local processing companies being sold to Canada, etc.
And I too like "Land Line" - one of my favourite shows but it should never be taken as a way of showing how well off some people on the land seem to be. I enjoy the development, of ways of improving the land, of how technology is assisting the industry. And Pip Courtney's husband was one of the ABC staff killed a few years ago while they were filming Lake Eyre from the air.
Aus-Kiwi said
06:00 AM Jun 15, 2019
Its the way some are paying ? Getting around the laws . Why do few, stuff things up for SO many ?? Caravan park owners having a winge !!
Cupie said
08:22 AM Jun 15, 2019
Warren-Pat_01 wrote:
Hello everyone,
In NSW & Qld there is a website (outbackbeds.com.au/) where travellers can stay on farms & enjoy some good company if you want it &/or the environment that the property covers. They have standards set for accommodation including toilets & showers - the hot water might be bore water. We stayed at Kilcowera near Currawinya NP a few years ago & saw many beautiful birds, flowers & fruit that are found in desolate & hard areas. While we camped in our Eagle camper, we used the facilities in the Shearers' Quarters - the only condition was if we wanted a hot shower, we had to water the lawn first for 30 minutes!
I guess the old standard "park your van down the back" where farmer sees tourists as an extra source of income has backfired for some reason in the past & so governments/councils have had to set standards. We've all heard of things being done on the cheap but someone used to better conditions, complains or someone gets hurt. --------------- I don't like entering arguments because someone took offence about what someone said.
Olive Oil, I shared your response once before I married a farmer's daughter. Pat's father was killed in a tractor accident & Death Duties were in then! It was thought he was affected by chemicals he was spraying.
I would suggest to you that you try driving north east of Echuca & further on through central NSW & see how many rich farmers you see, how many who have adequate stores of hay & water, those whose stock are well fed on green pastures, etc. These people have been suffering severe drought for years. Last year when we went through there I heard two truckies talking on the CB where one said "Bill, I saw two roos standing on the road & they seemed to say, run over us, mate as we have nothing to eat or drink out here". The land was pitiful, how the graziers made money, I don't know. I would guess that they were up to their necks in debt to the banks. And into NE NSW where drought was extremely rare - there was nothing except cow pats in the paddocks - did the cattle eat them? I don't know as there was nothing else!
You would have to be both blind & deaf to ignore the plight of the dairy farmers down your way who were affected by the cheap $1 a litre milk, as well as local processing companies being sold to Canada, etc.
And I too like "Land Line" - one of my favourite shows but it should never be taken as a way of showing how well off some people on the land seem to be. I enjoy the development, of ways of improving the land, of how technology is assisting the industry. And Pip Courtney's husband was one of the ABC staff killed a few years ago while they were filming Lake Eyre from the air.
Yep, I agree with your remarks, though ..
There are large areas of Western NSW that we travelled through that are looking fantastic. Green grass for as far as the eyes can see, dams & waterholes full, 'dry' creek beds running and even spoon drains beside the highway containing water. The Hay Plain in particular is as described.
Of course some will talk of 'green drought', whatever that is. Maybe the rain came at the wrong time of the year and also was not widespread etc etc. But I saw what I saw. As per my previous post there are some lucky primary producers.
Thanks for the link, I have made it a favourite for planning future trips. So sad about Pip's Husband. She is a fav of mine too. Just love that hat & smile.
Keith W said
06:41 PM Jun 15, 2019
It seem to me if you sign the farmers guest book camp for free but leave a cash donation the rego could be circumnavigated
https://www.google.com.au/search?source=hp&ei=xLEAXaPoNNTZrQHRqZzgCg&q=Camping+on+private+land%3A+Vic+farmers+forced+to+meet+caravan+park+laws&oq=Camping+on+private+land%3A+Vic+farmers+forced+to+meet+caravan+park+laws&gs_l=psy-ab.3...1843.1843..2429...1.0..0.277.464.0j1j1......0....2j1..gws-wiz.....6..35i39._tT3IQeHhpo
OR
https://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/national/camping-on-private-land-vic-farmers-forced-to-meet-caravan-park-laws/news-story/f07169d664b9cd17f3bc881378c22d6c
Bush camping farm stays have been booming in Australia, giving enterprising farmers the opportunity to earn extra income. But the practice is dying in Victoria after businesses were burned by outdated campsite rules....
Camping on private land: Vic farmers forced to meet caravan park laws
Bush camping farm stays have been booming in Australia, giving enterprising farmers the opportunity to earn extra income. But the practice is dying in Victoria after businesses were burned by outdated campsite rules.
Victorian farmers are not allowed to host campers on their private land unless they comply with regulations made for commercial caravan parks. Picture: Generic
Victorian farmers earning as little as $10 a night from having people camp on their properties must meet the same regulations as commercial caravan parks.
The revelation comes amid heightened calls for an overhaul of current rules slammed by opponents as outdated and the most stringent in the nation to make it easier for farmers to capitalise on the popularity of share economy websites.
Under current Victorian rules, any farmer that makes an income from campers on their properties must provide:
Showers and toilets;
Hot water;
Sewerage or septic systems;
Lit roadways and paths; and
An on-site manager to be on hand during office hours.
The biggest problem is (authorities) make farmers apply (for permits) as if theyre setting up a big caravan park and the reality is in most cases theyre just providing a parking space for a fully contained camper, former farmer and camping website founder James Woodford said.
Mr Woodford, whose company matches camping enthusiasts and those with available land, said while those in cities and towns were benefiting from share economy apps such as Airbnb, farmers were generally missing out, and a more sensible and affordable approach was needed.
He said NSW had an exemption that allowed farmers to have guests camp 60 nights per year and workable primitive camping regulations.
The Queensland Government has adopted a no one-size-fits-all approach, according to a tourism toolkit, which recommends councils create bush camp and basic camping ground standards under planning schemes to encourage commercial investment in new options.
Mr Woodford said of the 256 properties in regional Victoria that had registered on his YouCamp website, just 105 were still in operation because many have been shut down by councils.
Farmers generally receive about $10-$30 a night for campsites.
King Valley farmers John and Sharon Jarrott who had yurts, or large dome-shaped tents, shut down to guests because they didnt meet regulations described the laws as draconian.
You couldnt even get a caravan up the hill but we have to become a caravan park, Ms Jarrott said.
Ms Jarrott said she had spent more than a year and thousands of dollars trying to meet requirements, including $5000 to set up a septic tank, and was just last week given the OK by her local council.
Andy Reid, Hillcrest, has been told by his local council that he cannot rent his small farm out to campers, which he was doing through the website YouCamp. Picture: Dannika Bonser
MORE: REGULATION TANGLES THE TOURISM DREAM
EDITORIAL: FARMERS TIED UP IN RED TAPE
Andy Reid, a hobby farmer at Hillcrest near Ballarat, said he spent $10,000 on a planner and still did not have a permit.
I spent over two years on the application and it was going to cost almost a quarter of a million dollars to share my space with other people and its not worth it, he said.
Victorian Farmers Federation president David Jochinke said while campers travelling to regional areas to experience farm life was a good thing there were safety concerns of being on worksites, which farms are.
The Victorian government is required to undertake a compulsory review of the caravan park regulations this year, but changes, if any, will not come into effect until next year.
If this is becoming a future trend we need to get in front of it. By the sounds of it the review is a good thing, Mr Jochinke said.
Pyrenees mayor and Rural Councils Victoria executive board member Robert Vance, a sheep farmer, said he absolutely believed farmers should have to meet the same regulations as caravan parks.
He said his biggest concern was safety.
A Victorian government spokeswoman told The Weekly Times, local councils are the responsible authority for reviewing planning permits for commercial activities on farming land.
The government said the review of the states regulations would examine camping on private land. Public submissions close June 23.
Not so much the actual location but more about giving the farmers a helping hand
They're not all struggling, lots of them are doing rather well.
Our camp fees for staying on their properties would be a tiny drop in a bucket compared to a bumper harvest or high stock prices at the market saleyards.
Many retired folk overate their importance/contribution to the rural economy.
I think it would be good to have a choice of where to stay. As you said some people staying on crown land at Mays Bend at Bourke had "people rampaging through,stealing property and vandalizing cars and caravans" So paying nominal fee to stay on a farmers property and having security would be a good thing.
-- Edited by Plain Truth on Thursday 13th of June 2019 07:09:24 PM
Are you for real??
Maybe you need to get out to some of these farms and get areal look at how they are going.
Tony
Your right hunny bunny why these nit wits get involved and spoil things for people when theres no sense in it at all its an absolute no brainer...
* Perhaps you'd like to share the exact facts and stats you've cobbled together to arrive at your view that "lots" of farmers are prosperous?
* Yes indeed, I'm sure rural towns would be extremely grateful if we all stopped patronising their businesses
Sounds like what ever drugs you're on are doing the job....Care to share???
Many dont have showers or even toilets but rely more on the traveller being self contained.
On the other side of the fence, if councils are so concerned about a farmer providing a service for caravanners then why doesnt councils open up more RV parks which comply. From my observations again a council is quite often very keen to sell off a council owned caravan park to private operators. Many of these ex council parks were in prime areas generally along the coast.
I think many RV travellers are happy to pull up on a farm under the shade of a tree for a couple of days and slip the farmer a few dollars but this once again can be exploited by people on both sides if the opportunity arises.
Greed is a very strong motivator...
Watch Landline on ABC TV & listen to the Rural Report on ABC radio every day, it'll open your eyes & mind.
The ABC is your key point of reference? Oh dear.
Why does almost every thread on this forum turn into a p*ssing contest?
I thought this was more like a discussion that people have on a forum.
People ask for opinions, and give their opinions.
We may disagree, but are free to express views.
Why would this be viewed as a p**ssing contest?
A discussion involves a degree of respect for the other persons opinion, not a lot of respect shown in some of the posts here.
As always,you make a valuable contribution to the discussion.Cheers
Dare I make an observation least I get attacked ...
Well who cares. I can always not read the replies I suppose ... & add to my list of those 'nasty' forum members.
I suppose that there are good & perhaps lucky primary producers, just like there are good & perhaps lucky business people. Also lots on the other side of the equation.
Sure some in both camps seem to be doing it hard and others doing very well thank you very much!
I was wandering the main street of Hay recently looking in the windows of the large number of empty & for sale shop fronts. A local of about my age (70+) wandered over & began the conversation by pointing out that I could buy at least half of the street for a pittance & went on to talk about his bad luck. It seems that he couldn't make a go of the local family sheep property & had to sell it to buy one at Ivanhoe for $1m. After a few years that wasn't working out so he had just recently sold it for $3m. Tough hey. (but to be fair, I don't know how much debt he was carrying). Maybe he was the one selling the Hay main street properties. LOL Oh yes, he did mention how the caravanners were an important part of the local economy & that showed with the extensive serviced bush camps on the river side close to town.
Brought to mind a group of ex Wheat farmers from South Australia that I met a few years ago. They got my attention because they were all in top of the range Cruisers pulling brand new gin palaces. They told me that they had been doing it tough, with the seasons not always being favourable to wheat growing, so they individually sold out at a good price to some very large Agricultural Company & were living the dream.
It's sad to see so many country towns in decline but there are still a lot doing very well through it all. A bit like city businesses & employees everywhere too, for that matter.
The wealth gap in (refer Lorenz curve) in this country & perhaps the world, is certainly widening over the last couple of decades.
As far as the OP is concerned, I can see that in this terribly litigious society that we find ourselves in, the 'authorities' are no doubt under some degree of pressure to ensure that all players play by the same rules & that 'customers' interests are 'protected'. Just exclude disruptors like Uber though, hey? LOL.
-- Edited by Cupie on Friday 14th of June 2019 11:42:03 PM
In NSW & Qld there is a website (outbackbeds.com.au/) where travellers can stay on farms & enjoy some good company if you want it &/or the environment that the property covers. They have standards set for accommodation including toilets & showers - the hot water might be bore water. We stayed at Kilcowera near Currawinya NP a few years ago & saw many beautiful birds, flowers & fruit that are found in desolate & hard areas. While we camped in our Eagle camper, we used the facilities in the Shearers' Quarters - the only condition was if we wanted a hot shower, we had to water the lawn first for 30 minutes!
I guess the old standard "park your van down the back" where farmer sees tourists as an extra source of income has backfired for some reason in the past & so governments/councils have had to set standards. We've all heard of things being done on the cheap but someone used to better conditions, complains or someone gets hurt.
---------------
I don't like entering arguments because someone took offence about what someone said.
Olive Oil, I shared your response once before I married a farmer's daughter. Pat's father was killed in a tractor accident & Death Duties were in then! It was thought he was affected by chemicals he was spraying.
I would suggest to you that you try driving north east of Echuca & further on through central NSW & see how many rich farmers you see, how many who have adequate stores of hay & water, those whose stock are well fed on green pastures, etc. These people have been suffering severe drought for years. Last year when we went through there I heard two truckies talking on the CB where one said "Bill, I saw two roos standing on the road & they seemed to say, run over us, mate as we have nothing to eat or drink out here". The land was pitiful, how the graziers made money, I don't know. I would guess that they were up to their necks in debt to the banks. And into NE NSW where drought was extremely rare - there was nothing except cow pats in the paddocks - did the cattle eat them? I don't know as there was nothing else!
You would have to be both blind & deaf to ignore the plight of the dairy farmers down your way who were affected by the cheap $1 a litre milk, as well as local processing companies being sold to Canada, etc.
And I too like "Land Line" - one of my favourite shows but it should never be taken as a way of showing how well off some people on the land seem to be. I enjoy the development, of ways of improving the land, of how technology is assisting the industry. And Pip Courtney's husband was one of the ABC staff killed a few years ago while they were filming Lake Eyre from the air.
Yep, I agree with your remarks, though ..
There are large areas of Western NSW that we travelled through that are looking fantastic. Green grass for as far as the eyes can see, dams & waterholes full, 'dry' creek beds running and even spoon drains beside the highway containing water. The Hay Plain in particular is as described.
Of course some will talk of 'green drought', whatever that is. Maybe the rain came at the wrong time of the year and also was not widespread etc etc. But I saw what I saw. As per my previous post there are some lucky primary producers.
Thanks for the link, I have made it a favourite for planning future trips. So sad about Pip's Husband. She is a fav of mine too. Just love that hat & smile.
It seem to me if you sign the farmers guest book camp for free but leave a cash donation the rego could be circumnavigated