TAS. GOVT. MAKING IT HARDER TO FREE CAMP !!

Big Gorilla · Guru

TAS. GOVT. MAKING IT HARDER TO FREE CAMP !!

rockylizard · Guru

Gday...

If the letter of the legislation is followed, adhered to and implemented then 'free/low cost' camping in Tassie is very quickly going to disappear.

Some reading -

http://www.treasury.tas.gov.au/economy/economic-policy-and-reform/national-competition-policy

http://www.treasury.tas.gov.au/Documents/NCP-Applying-Principles-Local-Gov-Tas.PDF

Cheers - John

Desert Dweller · Guru

We live in a beach side suburb south of Melbourne, popular with tourists.

Over the past week there's been a couple in an old coaster bus camping illegally firstly in Woolworths carpark then Aldi, followed by Coles & First Choice Liquer. All have 2 hour time limits clearly signed.

It has a grey nomads sticker on it. The shire rangers obviously haven't caught up with them yet. I wonder if they'll pull the old medication trick if he does?

Is it any wonder councils are getting fed up with traveling wrinklies?

rockylizard · Guru

Gday...

Read the National Competition Policy in the links above that Tasmania has implemented and the Economic Regulator to enforce it .

The push is not the Tassie Councils, or disgruntled residents, in these instances, but "some" businesses in the towns/area ... I won't mention van parks.

These complaints are from within many council areas in Tassie and these 'businesses' are lodging complaints to the Economic Regulator that they are being disadvantaged because the council has an unfair economic advantage in that the council isn't operating on a 'level playing field' in regard to allowing travellers to stay for free on council land.

If you read the links I provided, you will see that the Economic Regulator has little option but to uphold the complaints ... by either having council's discontinue providing low cost or free camping for travellers or charge a representative price - eg same nightly price as a van park.

The one highlighted in the article provided by BG is the third council I have seen under fire ... one of the councils has already discontinued their 'free camp' - a bitumen carpark with toilets that the council owned and that council provided toilet cleaning and rubbish removal only. Other local businesses in that town made representation to the Economic Regulator stating that forcing the closure of the 'free camp' was detrimental to THEIR business but the Economic Regulator was unmoved.

Cheers - John

Tony Bev · Guru

My interpretation, (I hope that I am wrong), is that the writing is out there on the wall

I can only say that we should give ammunition to those who want to keep the free camps open, by supporting the small business people near the free camps

rockylizard · Guru

Gday...

hmm I agree with that outlook Tony.

However, Tasmanian legislation, and the creation of the Economic Regulator to enforce that legislation, puts the writing on the wall.

It is almost impossible for a council to justify allowing travellers to remain overnight, or longer, on council owned land and to not impose a cost to the traveller that gives allowance for the costs that a van park must have in place to provide a 'camping' spot - eg, water, insurance, maintenance, electricity, cleaning etc.

Councils have very little option - charge a fee commensurate with the fee charged by a van park ... or close the 'free/low cost' camp.

Interestingly, I have yet to hear about a 'free camp' provided on 'private' property being challenged under this legislation by van parks. It just may be time before it extends to that.

But, in a positive note. I agree fully that all travellers, and not just in Tassie, should make it a point to spend some money in all towns that provide a free/low cost overnight 'camp' for travellers. [EDIT: and make sure you TELL the business you are a traveller, either passing through, or slept overnight at their camp, when you spend a bob or two in their business.]

There will never be support for the continuance of free/low camps from van parks - or campgrounds that charge a nightly fee. All those other small businesses that rely on the travelling public for their turnover and cashflow NEED our support ... hopefully they will return that support if the need raises its ugly head.

Cheers - John

-- Edited by rockylizard on Tuesday 19th of December 2017 01:26:27 PM

Chris61 · Senior Member

The wynyard/Waratah council and the Circular Head council have done a study on camping for the 2016-2026 time frame.

http://www.circularhead.tas.gov.au/webdata/resources/files/10%20@leisure%20WWCH%20Camping%20issues%20paper%20270417.pdf

It is a bit long but makes some good points

I have fixed the link Rocky

-- Edited by Chris61 on Tuesday 19th of December 2017 09:12:09 PM

-- Edited by Chris61 on Tuesday 19th of December 2017 09:12:55 PM

rockylizard · Guru

Gday...

Fixed link -

http://www.circularhead.tas.gov.au/webdata/resources/files/10%20@leisure%20WWCH%20Camping%20issues%20paper%20270417.pdf

Cheers - John

-- Edited by rockylizard on Tuesday 19th of December 2017 02:02:55 PM

blaze · Guru

I know here in circular head that a free camp location that has a large pub there complained about a new caravan park that opened
cheers
blaze

Ron-D · Guru

We toured tassie in 2008 stayed at freecamps most of the time,we were new to caravans back then ,we had a little avan so the ferry fees were reasonable,never free camped before that trip,but everyone was doing it we learned what it was all about in that freecamping paradise ,what a shame with high ferry fees and cracking down on freecamping,a lot will now avoid that little paradise guess we were lucky we had a fabulous time there...

Desert Dweller · Guru

Our observations in Tasmania were that in some beautiful beach side locations the property owners on the beachfront were rather fed up with free camping ''shanty towns'' of RVers blocking their ocean views, rightfully so!

They pay rates for the right to enjoy the scenery! We took our car only over there & stayed in cabins for three weeks. We couldn't help but see so many Rvers camping illegally in boat ramp car parks & other inappropriate locations.

Any location that had a toilet block had a ''cluster'' of RVers around it. Why have these people got en-suites in their vehicles? Are they scared of emptying a bit of wee & poo?

What a total disgrace!

Goldman · Member

One of the main industries in tassie is the tourism industry, without it their economy will suffer dramatically. Many, many tourists expend significant monies just getting there, and if they now need to spend another significant amount staying in CPs, then many will go elsewhere and not go to Tassie at all. Short sighted policies like the one banning free camping will destroy many small business operators in tassie who by and large depend on the nomads purse strings, then you have the major operators like the spirit. Why oh why is tassie shooting themselves in the foot, when they need as many of us to visit tassie as possible. I am arriving in tassie for three months from mid feb 18 with my caravan, I may as well leave it in my brothers back yard ( in tassie) and take day trips, not spending my hard earned in CPs, restaurants, or local economies around the free camps. How bloody ridiculous.