The donation sites

Grubbygypsy · Senior Member

The donation sites

brickies · Guru

Maybe the day visitors are local ratepayer and pay rates , We has camper are visitors and is the only way we can contribute to say thank for having the camp available for us , I for one are happy to donate plenty don't share that idea .

beiffe · Guru

I always donate where possible and I always clean up the area when I get there and before I leave.
If you don't want to donate to a site that a council etc has provided at cost to their community then perhaps dont camp there.
Because some don't donate doesn't mean you cant.
Once stopped at a lovely campsite in SA with a donation box and two prominent long time campers with large rigs etc stated there was no way they would donate as they were AUSTRALIANS. Cant see why they called themselves Australians when they were not prepared to put any effort towards the upkeep of THEIR country.
ALWAYS leave a camp site better than when you arrived and take everything you bring in OUT with you.
Always surprised how people have no trouble carrying a carton of full bottles of beer but cant carry the empties back out again and then complain about the condition of the site.
Its is OUR country and if travelling especially full time take an hour or so to clean up. Nothing like a walk through the bush, carry a small plastic bag and fill it up each time. Easy to get rid of the bags at the first town you go through, most supermarkets have a large bin around even if out the back or at a local council office or similar. It helps our image if we are seen to be disposing of rubish correctly

Grubbygypsy · Senior Member

No....these were people breezing through. I'm happy to donate if I use something, but any cleaning and toilet roll replenishment was needing to be done due to them. It should be a fairer system is all I'm saying. So 10 people stop for the view and use everything, but I use nothing yet I'm the one to have to pay for it? Not really fair is all I'm saying.

Santa · Guru

Why worry about something you have no control over.

Simple fact is some people are generous, appreciate and are prepared to financially support facilities provided for them, others are simply mean spirited, quite prepared to take and give nothing in return, sadly it's the way of the world.

chrisnchris · Senior Member

I totally agree with brickies and beiffe . Maybe Grubbygypsys take on free/donation camps is why so many of them are closing . Travellers want to use the area but don't ask me to help with the upkeep which includes the grass you're parked on .
Cheers

Aussie1 · Guru

There are lots of free things in this amazing country of ours, free air, free sunshine, free beaches, free space etc, etc. A few "shillings" donated whether you use the facility or not, should not be a problem in my opinion. Another example is, we often (well most people) donate to worthy causes and would probably never have need of what those funds are for. But, we just do it. It's all about spirit and living at your high standards. Enjoy your travel all.

Grubbygypsy · Senior Member

I think you're all misunderstanding what I'm saying.....it's not that I don't donate, it's just I wonder why it's only US that are asked to, when we use the facilities the least. It's also the fact that caravans get the bad name for it (rubbish and used loo roll), when it's not us causing it. Quite frankly, without councils or whoever knowing the facts....it'll remain the same. I think when it's an 'attraction' as opposed to a place to camp....I don't think it should be US providing everything for the passing public.
Oh and cleaning up after them.......no way to I pick up another vile human beings waste. I'm pedantic about my own rubbish being in the correct place, I'm not picking up after sloths that need a bullet.

-- Edited by Grubbygypsy on Friday 17th of February 2017 11:59:00 AM

msg · Guru

Grubbygypsy, never suggest not paying for something you don't use on here. You will only get derision. Personally, I think its a good discussion question.

Grubbygypsy · Senior Member

I think so too msg.....because I think they just haven't thought it through.
So while we travellers just continue to get (and accept) the blame when it's not us, that's when camps close etc.

Aussie1 · Guru

Gee, I don't have a very high opinion of people who leave rubbish either, however, it does not stop me from doing a bit of a clean up when free camping (and have also noticed quite a few others doing the same). Those "grabber things" on a stick are ideal for that purpose. Good exercise and is a good reminder of the "olden days" cleaning up after our kids at home :0

wasn_me · Guru

This has always been an issue in national parks. Campers pay for the upkeep on facilities used by both campers & day trippers. NSW now has day user charges on some parks. Qld doesn't. Some councils are putting boom gates on dams to pay for upkeep on facilities. I'm a believer in user pays. Cheers Pete

msg · Guru

Might I suggest that users have already paid? National parks are already funded by State and National Govts. That is, you and me as taxpayers. Therefore in 90% of cases user PAID. I would be quite happy to do without all the fancy walkways etc if that meant we could enjoy those places in their natural state. (if that is what the extra payments are for)

Footprints · Senior Member

So you say that you are not using anything, you are using the land that could be used for other purposes and people and you would be the first to complain if that piece of found was not maintained as in fire risk areas and don't forget the local emergency agencies that are provide at your beck and call if needed yet you are to miserable to offer donation. The way I see it is if more travellers subscribe to you thinking on this matter more camp sites will close and the first to complain will be the leeches and parasites that have lived off the generosity of others, being the areas local ratepayers.

msg · Guru

Have you forgotten that it is an obligation of councils and government authorities to provide these services regardless of whether they are used or not? Taxpayer money and rates are for those purposes. I pay both.

Eaglemax · Guru

Gee, grubbygypsy. Id rather camp next to a donation evadwr than someone who said this "Sloth that needs a bullet" Reflect?

Ron-D · Guru

I really can't believe how miserable and tight some people are these sites are supplied to us for practically nothing and just because you don't use the toilate paper, you don't throw your garbage around the place,you a can then be a freeloader what a joke ...

msg · Guru

Eaglemax wrote:
Gee, grubbygypsy. Id rather camp next to a donation evadwr than someone who said this "Sloth that needs a bullet" Reflect?

Please don't get personal. Its a discussion generally, on donation sites. About paying for services that we don't use. I have noticed with most donation sites, the council has leased the land to a local charity. The council are in a win, win situation. (I suppose ratepayers are too). They have negated their responsibility for managing the land that they still collect rates for, and a fee from the charity and the "charity" maintains it for them. That's my take I could be wrong. Into the bargain, how could any self respecting person not donate to a charity? Hmmmm.

Grubbygypsy · Senior Member

Eaglemax wrote:
Gee, grubbygypsy. Id rather camp next to a donation evadwr than someone who said this "Sloth that needs a bullet" Reflect?

Only a litterbug would be offended at them needing to be culled mate

Grubbygypsy · Senior Member

Footprints wrote:
So you say that you are not using anything, you are using the land that could be used for other purposes and people and you would be the first to complain if that piece of found was not maintained as in fire risk areas and don't forget the local emergency agencies that are provide at your beck and call if needed yet you are to miserable to offer donation. The way I see it is if more travellers subscribe to you thinking on this matter more camp sites will close and the first to complain will be the leeches and parasites that have lived off the generosity of others, being the areas local ratepayers.

Once again for those that have trouble with comprehension, I do donate. Hell...I just donated up the road to one I didn't even stay at....

I am SAYING.......if people are using it....they all should be paying, not only those who aren't. Maybe I'm not clear enough when I say I'm talking about attractions to the area...not a camp as such.

adreamer · Senior Member

Let's all remember who all this Land does actually belong too in the first place and they never trashed it with white mans rubbish either. Let's face it us humans will destroy, suck and trash everything and if it's free all the better.

I get you gypsy!!

Helen

Desert Dweller · Guru

In the past 5 years we've traveled a total of 6 months per year mostly in VIC, SA & NSW.

A lot of people DO the right thing but a lot of people DON"T DO the right thing.

We enjoy putting in at donation camps & paying our fees at small community ''caravan parks''.

If the dishonest ones persist with their behaviour the future looks bleak for the rest of us in the long term.

There's no such thing as a free ride like some folk think is their right.

TheHeaths · Guru

Grubby,

I think if you asked those that provide and look after the site, they would not expect just overnighters/grey nomads to donate, but also the day users as well.

I know, where we have stopped in donation sites for lunch or morning tea, we make a donation to the site. We consider it part of the cost of travelling and making sure that these places do stay open, as one day we may need to use the toilets, BBQ's or whatever.

The sad thing is that many are not on forums such as this, so do not consider the need to donate, and so just merrily go along using but not donating.

-- Edited by TheHeaths on Friday 17th of February 2017 08:08:30 PM

Bruce and Bev · Guru

many of these donation camping areas are maintained by local volunteers who want to do the best for their township. They don't get paid for it and often purchase from their own pockets the cleaning gear, toilet rolls etc which are supplied. The local council also often built the toilet block and they have to pay to clean out blockages or full septic tanks

What annoys me is seeing the camp users walking out with rolls of toilet paper - I even saw a female come trundling out with a toilet brush and holder - really !!!!!!!!!

If we use a donation area, we pay, even though we use our own toilet paper and if necessary clean up the toilets if someone has been dirty in them.

Without donations, we wont have low cost sites and we will be forced to either free camp with no toilets and hand basins or cold water or stay at a caravan park and pay $25-60 a night.

msg · Guru

I would be happy to free camp with no toilets and hand basins . That's what a free camp should provide. Nothing.

I am happy to and I do, go to a caravan park when I need services. ie Power, water, dump point and garbage disposal.

Still don't use showers and toilets, camp kitchen or the jumping pillow.

Santa · Guru

Bruce and Bev wrote:
forced to either free camp with no toilets and hand basins or cold water

Very few of the camp sites we occupy have any of these facilities, we provide our own.

Perhaps that's why we seldom see the types of people this thread is referring to, the camps we stay in have nothing much to offer other than fresh air, peace and quiet and usually interesting geography, that's about all we need.

Yep, we also book into a van park whenever we feel a need for the facilities they provide.

We don't stealth camp, never have never will. smile

-- Edited by Santa on Friday 17th of February 2017 11:35:06 PM

Desert Dweller · Guru

Stayed at Walpeup Travellers Rest on the Mallee Hwy for a week on two occasions, both times we were the only long term stayers as we were using it as a base to do day trips in the area

Fees are $10 per night with power to be placed in box. Signage is prominent! Facilities are spotless.

Every afternoon at least half a dozen rigs pulled in & stayed overnight pulling out early next morning. NO-ONE PUT A CENT IN THE BOX! You can look down the slot & see the bottom, nothing there.

There's an Asian lady who cleans the amenities & empties the box or if someone's around collects their fees. The stealth campers all avoided her. She gave us a bag full of beautiful Naval Oranges off her tree, they were magnificent!

WHAT A DISAPPOINTING ATTITUDE FROM RETIREES (THIEVES) MOSTLY TRAVELING IN LARGE EXPENSIVE RIGS!

-- Edited by Desert Dweller on Saturday 18th of February 2017 05:26:04 AM

brickies · Guru

It's a game with some people to see how little they can spend when on the road . Next thing will be Grey nomads drive off from service station with caravan in tow. If someone on the road fulltime and don't own a house and on a pension can get rent assistance .

Big Mal · Senior Member

Gee Grubbygypsy, only a couple of us seem to have read your post with some sort of understanding, can only agree with you but like a lot of things some of us cop it while others just breeze along blissfully ignorant.........

They changed the free camp at St Lawerence because of the bludgers who wouldn't donate but thats nothing to do with your OP.

brickies · Guru

The way I read it , If some one has to make a donation to camp overnight , Why do people not donate to go to the toilet .