Victoria to abolish free campsites - TV show wants interview

theprojectproducer · Newbie

Victoria to abolish free campsites - TV show wants interview

Gerty Dancer · Guru

I don't get it. I thought most free campsites are council owned? Are you talking only about National Parks

-- Edited by Gerty Dancer on Monday 27th of January 2014 03:13:17 PM

theprojectproducer · Newbie

That's right. Free campsites in national parks and state forests, etc. will no longer be free. Other campsites will see a big fee increase.

The state government has decided that the taxes it levies from taxpayers is not enough, and wants to charge a fee for something that is already owned by the public. National Parks are for all Australians, imposing a fee will just exclude what should be the right of everyone, no matter how wealthy or how poor.

Check the article from the Herald Sun for more information. And send me an email with your thoughts and your story if you'd like to be involved.

Cheers,
Mike

rockylizard · Guru

Gday...

This news report (and its content) is dated October 2013. This subject was done to death on this, and other forums, back then.

Refer to this thread - http://thegreynomads.activeboard.com/t55344520/south-west-victoria-national-park-fees-to-rise/

Cheers - John

Gerty Dancer · Guru

Mike, have a look on this forum in the "Free /Budget campsites" section... there are dozens if not hundreds of cheap or free places to camp without spending mega $$$$'s, in areas owned by local councils. I think the end result of this will be that Vic National Parks will have less visitors, maybe that is what they want?

theprojectproducer · Newbie

Thanks for that, John. The changes are due to start phasing in over the coming months. While I appreciate that hardcore campers like yourselves would know about it, most of the public wouldn't. The occasional camper, the family holiday-type, these changes are being brought in and they are none-the-wiser.

I'm not looking to rehash an old discussion thread. I'm looking for people who feel strongly about this to get in touch, so we can bring this issue to a wider audience.

My email address is: mclay@theprojecttv.com.au

Cloak · Guru

I won't camp in Victoria, simple.

GaryKelly · Guru

A wider audience sounds like a good idea. While ever this issue remains a tussle between bureaucrats and hardcore campers, the majority of Australians will remain ignorant of what the bureaucrats are up to, which is exactly what the bureaucrats would like. Expose the buggers, I say.

Big Gorilla · Guru

theprojectproducer wrote:

Check the article from the Herald Sun for more information. And send me an email with your thoughts and your story if you'd like to be involved.

Cheers,
Mike

Mike, do you have the URL for the story in Herald Sun. I can't find it.....Regards, Ken.

theprojectproducer · Newbie

The URL for the Herald Sun article is here:
www.heraldsun.com.au/news/victoria/unhappy-campers-asked-pay-to-stay-at-more-than-100-victorian-campgrounds/story-fni0fit3-1226744817948

A good opinion piece about the issue was published in The Age recently:
www.theage.com.au/comment/clamping-down-on-camping-but-why-20140108-30hhb.html

freehazzas · Senior Member

The only thing that is going to happen is that people wont camp there which means the greedy gov gets nothing and the local towns will get nothing either in the way of campers shopping in town.
Its only Nat parks which i dont camp in as they dont allow dogs, there are plenty of other areas in towns owned by the councils who like to have us which are free or low cost.

Deetric · Veteran Member

Well if this was implemented I for one would just bypass Victoria's Nat Parks. Maybe even Victoria.
What do they do with all the tax they already charge . Possibly time to upgrade the premiers office.

Oma · Guru

Well, we have done very little in Vic & that was going to be our destination in March for about 3 mths but is this is the situation we shall have to go elsewhere because we low cost/free camp 90% of the time.

justcruisin01 · Guru

Have a look at the camp fees & vehicle entry fees here in NSW,$20+ & $7 car entry p/day. Its cheaper to go to a C/park, & we all have out thoughts on that.

NP take crown land, public areas, & private land from farmers for minimal payment from tax payers money & then charge us to see our own country.

Bugsy · Veteran Member

Well I applaud Channel 10 for taking up the story and spreading it to a wider audience than we could ever hope for. The loss of our camp sites and the profiteering on public assets has been going on for years and it is time we all stood up against it.

This story is just the tip of the iceberg on what is going on in Australia with freedom of choice camping and the more exposure it gets the better.

-- Edited by Webmaster on Tuesday 28th of January 2014 05:15:05 AM

Santa · Guru

We wrote Victoria off ages ago, least friendly of all Oz states to visit, WA comes a close second.

Vic41 · Guru

As far as I am aware from the sites I have visited in National Parks in WA, they all charge a camping fee, not sure about the National Parks in states other than Victoria though.

May be those who like free camping see this as being "unfriendly" however not just because I live here but I have found (apart from the free camping) most small towns are very friendly and welcoming, albeit they may not provide free or low cost camping, although as a rule the inner town caravan parks are very cheap compared to the coastal caravan parks which from our experience of going around Oz is pretty well on a par with other states.

peterblack · Senior Member

it all sounds a bit suss to me just another crap show. like so called current affairs. that's just my opinion.
enjoy life

beiffe · Guru

Wont worry me as I have only camped in one national park in my 5 years on the road.
National parks are now for the exclusive and soon will be just another piece of overgrown scrub to wait for a good bush fire.
Most are that run down and too expensive for a normal nomad to visit.
For a family most NP are now pricing them selves out of the market as they chrge as much or more for a night than a CP and there is no way I will pay that much to camp in a bush.
The only people who will suffer will be the little towns in the local areas as the grey nomads who used to frequent the NP's will now look for other areas and there will not be the traffic to keep these little towns going.
Then the NP will complain when the local people are not there to fight the fires that start in their parks( an many of the fires do start in NP and then escape ).
I think it will be a loose all for the local areas as the parks will degenerate and the tourist will stay away.
I find Victoria the best state to travel as there are lots of free camps and I find the people very friendly and up till now I have spent most of my 5 years in Victoria camping and doing voluntary work, I must admit this year it looks like I will be in SA with Blazeaid WHEN the local councils get their act together and OK the use of camping areas for us volunteers to camp while we work.
We refuse to allow volunteers to be made to pay while they work. No free camping no base.
Regards
Brian

bill12 · Guru

I agree,Pete. You can,t trust the sensationalist current affairs programs on tv, but we must show the Vic govt our displeasure at this back door hike in fees.Most of these tv people are only interested in making controversey, and not in the facts.It will be interesting to see if there is any commentfrom the govt..Bill

native pepper · Senior Member

We travel and work extensively in Vic during winter, never a problem with camping and it only relates to national parks and state forest camps, which we would never use anyway. Lots of tiny towns throughout the state are very welcoming to caring travellers and a great experience to visit. It's good to contribute to the running of these assets, but the charges they are advocating are ridiculous.

-- Edited by native pepper on Tuesday 28th of January 2014 07:59:12 AM

Big Gorilla · Guru

The move by State Governments to charge campers started in Tasmania over a year ago. At the time I posted on the Forum the findings in a Report released by the Government. It would appear all or most States are going to follow suit. Personally, I don't stay in National Parks, so I wont be affected. A lot of other Grey Nomads don't either. That doesn't mean other GNs don't stay in National Parks and I think these Parks cater well for families. I'm not against Government charging camping fees, provided the charges are not in telephone numbers, and adequate facilities are provided and maintained.

I do however believe these high fees quoted will deter some families, who will look for cheaper accommodation, which in the long term, the Government will lose out. Moderate affordable charges could see a lot more people use the National Park facilities. After all there are many parts of Australia where we can see magnificent trees, shrubbery, flowers and plants together with Kangaroos, Wallabies, Emus...

Happywanderer · The Master

So, has anyone emailed the show?

Gerty Dancer · Guru

Yes I did, I suggested he do a story about Blazaid.

aussietraveller · Guru

The term National Parks is a a term which is definitely not it says, national parks issue annual passes for a fee but just try to use one in a state other than the one in which it was purchased and you will soon find that they are not accepted, and the standard of camp sites in some National Parks does not even match that of roadside stops for which you don't have to pay anything

JayDee · Guru

We very rarely camp in National Parks, due to restrictions. But as we the public own the parks, I think the Government is doing what they do best, that is fleece Mr & Mrs J. traveller/camper.
They do not realise the valuable $$$ that we contribute to their regions.
I read something recently, where the departments of the Queensland Government are committed to improving camp areas and Driver survival areas throughout Queensland, as they value the tourism trade that we the caravanning and camping public to bring to the State of Queensland.
Hope it comes to fruition.
Jay&Dee

Santa · Guru

JayDee wrote:

I read something recently, where the departments of the Queensland Government are committed to improving camp areas and Driver survival areas throughout Queensland, as they value the tourism trade that we the caravanning and camping public to bring to the State of Queensland.
Hope it comes to fruition.
Jay&Dee

Its a shame SA doesn't see things the same way.

Legendts · Senior Member

So, everyone wants to complain, make excuses and whinge but no one wants to take them up on the offer. The silent majority loses again and we wonder why.

johnnz · Senior Member

In South Australia the national parks are free to cyclists, as we found last year, they do though have a fee for camping which we thought was reasonable.

So GN's on yer bikes

John

Vic41 · Guru

Legendts wrote:
So, everyone wants to complain, make excuses and whinge but no one wants to take them up on the offer. The silent majority loses again and we wonder why.

We don't know who may or may not have responded Jeff, not everyone posts their actions. I acknowledge your point though, I assume you did ?

Personally I would rather leave it to those who it will affect the most, those in Vic and those who free camp a lot travelling around Oz.

In WA we have fees that I believe are reasonable considering the upkeep and maintenance of National Parks, and would feel the same way about other states doing the same. I can't see how governments can make a "profit" from National Parks free camps bearing in mind also they have some professional staff to pay wages too (rangers, maintenance crews, bum paper etc) albeit they also have some volunteers, but in WA at least they supply those with uniforms, so another cost.

I'll go find one of those blankets now and take cover.... wink hmm

-- Edited by Vic41 on Tuesday 28th of January 2014 10:10:08 PM

Knowledge speaks, but wisdom listens.