Anyone For Clamping ?

Jack Mac · Senior Member

Anyone For Clamping ?

herbie · Guru

Hi everyone I know they use the word Glamping for this exclusive accommodation these days, but in national parks, myself and my hiking buddies call it Clamping,....

It is a lot like clamping some ones wheels for parking in the wrong place, (they are stopping us the paying public to use our national parks for our enjoyment )

Once this up market business takes place inside our national parks, where previously we could access by campers is a limitation on nomal every day camping sites (the you and me type people )The park administrations like to steer campers into into areas away from the up market set ups ...just go see Lizard Island,how you are not allowed to even enter where the higher end market stay.

We who once preferred to seek our own sites now have to conform . Similary access tracks leading to these more secluded sites are placed off limits and all vihicles are now forced to park within enclosures surrounded by the standard park furniture. The ubiquitous post and rail fence.

-- Edited by herbie on Thursday 11th of July 2013 09:23:03 PM

herbie · Guru

Wilpena Pound in the Flinders Rangers in SA National Park.,in September be opening it's refurbished resort.

With it's new safari tents in an exlusive area away from where us commoners camp.

Dinner bed and breakfast prices start at $340per couple low season/ high season $390.

Or if you only want the tent and no food it will only set you back $230 per night per couple.high season.

Is this where all the price hikes have gone to, to access our national parks gone towards,as not a lot has gone towards maintaining just the basic facilities for the average camper who doesn't wont all this glam ritzy camping experience.

valnrob · Guru

National Parks.........laughable

Jack Mac · Senior Member

herbie wrote:
Wilpena Pound in the Flinders Rangers in SA National Park.,in September be opening it's refurbished resort.
With it's new safari tents in an exlusive area away from where us commoners camp.
Dinner bed and breakfast prices start at $340per couple low season/ high season $390.
Or if you only want the tent and no food it will only set you back $230 per night per couple.high season.
Is this where all the price hikes have gone to, to access our national parks gone towards,as not a lot has gone towards maintaining just the basic facilities for the average camper who doesn't wont all this glam ritzy camping experience.

I'm not sure, and I'm sure I'll be told if I'm wrong, but wasn't Wilpena a working property within the National Park (possible before being designated a Natioal Park)?

Do they offer facilities/sites for we with our own accommodation?

As opposed to "Clamping" I think you may have meant "Glamping" and if people wish to pay the costs then there is probably a market for them. I'm sure there are people out there prepared to pay the costs or there wouldn't be a market.

Wombat 280 · Guru

valnrob wrote:
National Parks.........laughable

The dollars go into places that are totally inaccessible to the mere mortals. Those that maybe accessible you need the fitness level of a Special Forces Operative to hike in. All levels of government has allowed so much land to be locked up under the pretext that they are saving it for future generations. In reality under those future generation guide lines no one will ever be allowed in yet they suck up massive tax revenue at an unbelievable rate to maintain something that has sat there for years without the need for outside maintenance planning . Your right all we need is access and waste disposal and the visitors will come and they in turn will protect it .

Here in NSW they have done away with the average park worker who's tasking it was to collect the rubbish bins, maintain paths and grounds and place fire wood at various camp sites . since removing those occupations they have created carparks and effectively block access roads so if you want to camp be prepared to hike you gear in Now to hold a job in the parks you need to hold double degree is some obscure branch of science and no way are those people going to do any menial task.

I suspect other states are following suit and creating protected areas for feral animals and bush fires . If they ever get the authority to join up NP and Marine reserves that will be the end of your beach combing

Sorry to rant on but the continual NP mismanagement and exclusionary policies gets me right up in the stirrups on my hobby horse

Baz421 · Guru

herbie wrote:
Wilpena Pound in the Flinders Rangers in SA National Park.,in September be opening it's refurbished resort.
With it's new safari tents in an exlusive area away from where us commoners camp.
Dinner bed and breakfast prices start at $340per couple low season/ high season $390.
Or if you only want the tent and no food it will only set you back $230 per night per couple.high season.
Is this where all the price hikes have gone to, to access our national parks gone towards,as not a lot has gone towards maintaining just the basic facilities for the average camper who doesn't wont all this glam ritzy camping experience.

Herbie

I read your posts with interest and we share many common ideals and I agree with most of what you say.

However on this issue I think that the NP is big enough to let Wilpena Pound guest area "do its own thing" and cater to the market that would not come to the NP otherwise. This helps bring in the tourist $ and helps employ Aussies.

You can still visit the pound etc so no harm done I say.

My 2 cents worth again.

PS Was in NP 40 km North of Charters Towers a few days ago, disgraceful. Overgrown with long grass and weeds and hardly any campsites allowed, useless pre booking system, full of pigs (4 legged type). It could be managed and grazed to keep it from being a fire hazard and be much more open to campers and vans etc.

GaryKelly · Guru

Nothing wrong with a rant, Wombat. All I know about NPs is what I read here on the forum, and I'm getting the impression that we, the people, are not being invited to the party when bureaucrats make decisions about who is allowed into parks and who is not. As I see it, it should be we, the people, who make decisions about who gets to be a bureaucrat and who doesn't. After all, it's we, the people, who own the parks. And we the people who vote governments in and out. Anyone wanna argue with that? Therefore, it's we, the people, owners of the national parks of Australia, who should make our feelings known on forums such as this as well as to our local members of parliament. If we the people don't like the way things are run, we can change it. I don't accept for a minute that bureaucrats should be allowed to ride roughshod over people like you and me. So rant away, Wombat, and anyone else who has a beef with NP management.

Baz421 · Guru

Go for it Wombat.

Took my wife to old stamping grounds on NSW North coast 3 years ago. One NP we hadn't been to was so dirty, my wife picked up and bagged 2 full bin liner bags. Ranger showed up and wife said she picked up all this crap and wasn't going to pay.

Ranger agreed as she should have done this and hadn't for a long time, so she was a bit red faced.

Tomzys · Senior Member

Dont go to places that you are not willing to pay the rate they have many visitors there try ,in the high season its usually booked out,even at their rate,not a pensioners haven,they do have camp sites for caravans and tents.

rockylizard · Guru

Gday...

The Wilpena Pound is not owned by the National Parks ... http://ibaannualreport2012.com.au/wilpena-pound-resort-returns-to-traditional-owners/

Despite this 'new' ownership, I think Wilpena Pound Resort has been "privately" owned for some time.

And there are hoards of tourists ... very, very, very many from overseas that want to stay in something better than a two-person tent on the ground, caravan, or motorhome. They arrive in airconditioned tourist buses with full wallets and want to 'experience the outback' ... without any inconveniences .. just like Uluru, Kata Juta, Kakadu, Barrier Reef etc etc.

Let em develop their private areas for those that want em.

Me ... when I visit the area, I stay at Rawnsley Park Station - still a bit posh, but better than the Pound.

Cheers - John

rockylizard · Guru

Gday...

I know how you feel ... there are places I visited in the 60s and since that were great places ... but progress has 'progressed' beyond me.

The tourist $$$ drives capitalism mate. Ya jest gotta close one eye (or both) and just find places you can enjoy.

I gave up whinging about the 'moneyed tourist' trade ... that's why I stay completely away from the east coast of Straya - or within 50km of the coast. Too many tourists.

Give me the inland - where the real folk live and work ... and there's space to stretch out and breathe.

Ya not gonna change the ever growing tourist trend - especially as it is fast becoming the only thing Straya has to sell once we finish being a quarry.

And we stopped making stuff years ago hmm cry

Cheers - and just keep making ya campfires on the road - John

herbie · Guru

It might have returned to it's natural owners ,but it is still a National Park just the Aborigines now have a piece of the action.

mavicone · Member

I was totally pis..d off at the Byron Bay Lighthouse. It is now $7 to park for a few minutes and there is a full time NP officer collecting the money when you pull up. I drove 2 overseas visitors up there as walking up for them was out of the question. Talk about over taxed!! And we are constantly reminded not to leave rubbish and leave the location as we found it. NPWS is a total joke.

Wombat 280 · Guru

" I think you may be surprised to learn that a lot of the people who do environmental science, land management degrees etc. do so for the express purposes of being able to work in NP's etc. and are not above doing so called menial tasks. I do take exception to the term "menial tasks". Some people for whatever reason do these tasks, are gainfully employed and in many cases actually enjoy their work. Any honest work is not menial and especially where it meets the needs of the community. I am the son of a migrant, but have known through the course of my life people from night carters through to judges and multi millionaires (when a million really was a million) And never once heard any of them refer to menial workers or menial jobs.

Whilst we may scoff at the need for special skills, university/higher learning qualifications for certain occupations the world evolves. With a growing population, constructive, efficient land management practices are vital and while we may like to think that what was okay 50yrs ago is okay now it "ain't necessarily so".

Watch Landline on the ABC and one will see that even old school farmers are embracing the need for higher education and better practices."

Sorry Jack Mac. if the term of menial upset you it certainly was not intended . I hold all occupations as meaningful as without a foundation no one will ever manage to achieve anything. As for memenial task I personally would have to have a double masters in such tasks. Working night carts , rubbish collections, public dunny cleaning and selling papers on Sydney Trams all form part of my resume as I paid my full way through the higher educations system, culminating after my service life in becoming the head of environmental sciences at an leading Aust uni, so my background in knowing what goes on in my field gives me an unusual insight as to how mismanaged NP really are . As for farming practice today they still have a long way to go in refurbishing the land to it's full productivity potential.

herbie · Guru

To answer the question someone asked regarding if National Parks in QLD all come under the on line booking system.All I can answer is that if they are not already they will be.

This system I am sure is to keep us all out of our National Parks.

The system is just un unusable, time consuming and can cost more in bank fees to use credit card (if you can end up getting a booking ) for your one or two nights stay than the fees for the site.And PLEASE do not use your mobile on their web page ( if you are lucky enough to have service )

it can and will take up to 20mins on the phn and cost could be $10/20 in waiting time.

On the web page it says PLEASE NOTE--ParksQ is not compatible with ipad iphn operating system. Android mob devices that have Mozilla for mob (FREE APP) installed Internet explorer 10,other browsers such as explorer 8/9 or OTHER BROWSERS SUCH AS mac/safari/google crome

internet 8/9 or MOZILLA, FIRE FOX cannot be used...Goes on to say- WE are sorry for any inconvenience the issues will be rectified soon.

This has been going on from the day it was introduces around two some thing years ago.

The other issue is if you pay for 4 nights and only stay for two nights this booking system on their computer booking system looks like the sights are all taken ,when in reality there is sites as people have moved on for one reason or another.The main topic of conversation while on my last trip up the Cape between fellow travellers was how absolutely frustrating and how disgruntled every one felt regarding it.

One guy said we were lucky to have not got as far as being able to get into pay via the web site as some how he got in but when you get in their is stupid bugs like presenting dates in American format,instead of Australian Gar.

People are just camping in inappropriate areas.To me Q/N/R are deliberately restricting the number of sites and I only hope other states do not follow or we all will be locked out of National Parks,,,,WA has stated to go this way in a few fey parks I am told.

Heaven Help Us...I have never seen our bush so neglected all in my life,as soon as a beautiful bush area becomes what is deemed a National Park that is when all the neglect creeps in.I work in environmental ..and I am sorry to say all work ethics to look after our land has been over shadowed by idiotic rules/ unviable ideas/ under staffed /and far to many pen and bean counters.

herbie · Guru

Sorry Baz .cannot agree about these type of places employing Australians, these places in most cases employ back packers.

Just head out to any of the Islands off The Great Barrier Reef and see it for your self.

Wife and I went out to Herron Island a few months back for three days. ..Every single worker out there were back packers ( they love this type of work as they get payed to have a Reef Island holiday ) a lot easier than picking fruit they told us.

A lot were Asian and could not speak any English ,we found it very frustrating.

This is another place that has gone to the dogs as well. Filthy facilities and the area around the café/ bar was stinking of strong bird urin and bird droppings.The Helipad landing pad was all broken ( concrete ) every time a chopper landed or took off ,you had to dive for cover as the broken concrete pieces flew all over the place ,and it had hit you..well I guess it would have been all over .The fly screens were all broken/deck chairs around the café/ bar all broken/Door locks well there is not any on any of the rooms. Even the jetty was almost ready to be replaced. Such a shame as this was such a beautiful place to visit. would we go back NEVER NEVER EVER.

Forgot to mention the cook and one of the assistants had a blew during dinner so we all missed out on desert.

Because they have cut down on staff all the meals are at a certain time for different sections and if you are out diving like we were and your time for that meal is due ,you miss out until the next meal....Horrible horrible place .

/

rockylizard · Guru

Gday...

Geez ... how eye-opening cry

I guess there's not much point in visiting anywhere anymore, the country's gawn ta da dawgs hmm

Might as well sell the van and move into that retirement home.

Cheers - John

Baz421 · Guru

herbie wrote:
Sorry Baz .cannot agree about these type of places employing Australians, these places in most cases employ back packers.
Herbie,,,, the fuel delivery driver, milk delivery driver, food delivery driver all have jobs,,, don't just look at counter staff who serve you, it's too simplistic.
Go back to the airport where these high profile big spenders come in,,,, the numbers add up to employment ie customs, quarantine, security etc etc it goes on and on, as they buy fuel, hire vehicles, take tours et al.
Just head out to any of the Islands off The Great Barrier Reef and see it for your self.
The subject I commented on was this thread not the reef.

Cruising Granny · Guru

There are National Parks and Conservation Parks. Some conservation parks are used by pastoralists for grazing stock, but not intense farming or crop cultivation.
National Parks are not maintained as I believe they should be, and become fire dangers by neglect.
The noxious introduced weeds flourish, the feral cats multiply at a great rate, and in some parts the goats, pigs and foxes are having a high old time.
While the governments close off areas for alleged preservation, they deteriorate because neglect.
The horses in the Snowys are one of those examples. They kept the grasses down, and now they can't.
The Coffin Bay Ponies are kept to the agreed number, something like 30 and the rest are mustered and sold by the Coffin Bay Preservation Society.
They make great kids ponies because of their size and natue. While they are introduced, they are accepted as part of the history of the area.
I'm over national parks as such. There are fees and rules which seem "unnatural" to me in such places where nature is to be enjoyed as it was.
Many places now don't even provide a rubbish bin. Bring it in, take it out. No maintenance, and no wages for someone to do the dumping, and no pressure on the landfill in the area. Someone else gets it.
Many places have been spoilt by bureaucracy. Decisions made by people who aren't affected by the decisions made.