My understanding was that the Tas Government encouraged free and low cost camping to encourage tourism in this state.
It appears that this "Economic Regulator" is setting out to undo this and is backed by caravan park owners.
Or am I misunderstanding this.
Popcorn open and flack jacket on.
It all started some years ago when four caravan parks complained to the Economic Regulator (a sort of Ombudsman) on the ground of competitive neutrality, a national law that state government operations can't compete unfairly against private enterprise and have an unfair advantage but not costing in cost such as rates, interest, lease fees etc even if they don't pay them. There is a word in the law that mentions "significant business" and this is where the ruling is in my opinion is flawed. Some other states has set significant at $2m+ turnover so how you can consider a seasonal freedom camp significant is beyond me.
However the Regulator ruled so and some councils started charging modestly for their "free" camps. Tourism took a dive and Tassie suffered for a few years. The stirrers in the CPs have mostly moved on from the industry and things settled down and got back to normal or so we thought. It is interesting the Latrobe which was always the spot your headed for off the ferry instigated a permit /charge and handled it badly and has never recovered from the reputation it got.
This Queenstown situation instigated by the PREVIOUS owner of the CP has started it all again and if they are not careful Tassie RV tourism is likely to take a tumble again. Some government official never learn. The local community seems to be up in arms and I see the local publican is allowing RVs to PARK in his carpark overnight so this issue is not over yet.
There is another council in the Westbury /Deloraine area making noises also and banning freedom camping. Interesting times ahead.
I have been wanting to take the van over to Tassie and stay for at least three mths for a while now , aside from the cost of the ferry , it appeared as though it would be a relatively cheap stay with lots of free camping . If the regulator or whomever restrict the free camping I simply will give it a miss . The cost of the ferry is considerable for a rig over 15 m , I can do a lot of klms here on the mainland for that.
I have been wanting to take the van over to Tassie and stay for at least three mths for a while now , aside from the cost of the ferry , it appeared as though it would be a relatively cheap stay with lots of free camping . If the regulator or whomever restrict the free camping I simply will give it a miss . The cost of the ferry is considerable for a rig over 15 m , I can do a lot of klms here on the mainland for that.
There are still a lot of Freedom camp sites in Tassie, we were over there for around 5 weeks in Sept/Oct. It cost $1680 for a 21'6" Caravan and Landcruiser on the Spirit with a Day Cabin both ways with CMCA Discount, I think CMCA Discount is similar to Seniors discount but no cost if you have to re schedule.
There are also a number of low cost CP's at $10 a night if you are fully self contained, we stayed at one such CP at Strahan, and I think there is another at "The Bluff" at Devonport.
Put it on your Bucket List and Go, next year, because to me, if the Regulator is not stopped, He/She/They will force this issue onto other Councils like Queenstown.
I have been wanting to take the van over to Tassie and stay for at least three mths for a while now , aside from the cost of the ferry , it appeared as though it would be a relatively cheap stay with lots of free camping . If the regulator or whomever restrict the free camping I simply will give it a miss . The cost of the ferry is considerable for a rig over 15 m , I can do a lot of klms here on the mainland for that.
We are here now. peteinsa is right. Go for it, $10-$15 per night is still cheap and you can leave your van for day trips with no worries.
Day trips = not burning fuel towing your van = seeing much more for less.
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Kevin Kyle
On the road full time with Son and 21 year old cat and 3 year old Manx.
Toyota Landcruiser 100 series V8. Nextgen semi off-roader. 3 120 AH agm batteries, 1KW Solar
We had four months in Tassy 2012/13 - loved every minute of it - it was actually 130 days, and we only stayed four times in a caravn park, Hobart Showgrounds for three nights to get some work done on the MH, and one night in Georgetown, where they had closed the area behind the visitors center because of some grubs leaving messes around. One of the caravan parks had a special - three different price ranges - "behind the iron fence" $12 I think, older part of park was $20 from memory, and the other was $28 for the new area of the park - I personally think this is a good idea.
Some of the camps we stayed at were fantastic - Cosy Corner North, ****le Creek, one out on the edge of the ocean from Strahan, Lake McKenzie, Northeast Park near Scottsdale.
We also stayed at the Queenscliff Rec. Grounds - had a ball - there was a kids party put on by the Lions, and we were able to buy lovely burgers etc.
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jules "Love is good for the human being!!" (Ben, aged 10)
