RV Ramblings #7

Readers’ letters continue to flow in about the controversial proposal to reduce the number of low-cost or free camping options in Tasmania.

Due to the overwhelming response received since running a news story on this issue in late-2011, we’ve decided to publish a special edition of RV Ramblings focussing on this very hot topic. We’re sure it’s not the last we’ll hear about it...

WE HAVE TRANSPORTED our RV to Tasmania three times over the last three years and intended to go again in 2013. My wife and I don't mind paying a nominal figure for the use of dump points. If however, the freedom of bush camping is removed we will not return - Tim and Robyn Shaw

AS A RESIDENT and ratepayer of Tasmania, I think the little it costs the ratepayer is a small price to pay for the overall gain, and for that price us locals get the benefit of also using the free camp facilities - Phil

I WAS CONTEMPLATING taking my van to Tasmania to have a look at this nice place but with this sort of money grabbing solution from Tasmanians, they obviously don't need my business.

As a grey nomad I am not in a position to book into costly caravan parks wherever I go. We do still buy all other necessities at local shops of course. How much money do they think we have available? They won’t see my van in Tasmania under those conditions.

Australia is fast becoming a money grabbing society without any thought for the people who have been paying taxes for 50 years to be able to park on the road overnight for a rest without paying exorbitant costs for the privilege of seeing their own country - Helge Gram

LOCAL AND STATE Governments should look at the big picture; not everyone can afford the high prices that caravan park owners and operators are charging for sites. Whenever we camp in a free site near a town or city the local businesses get extra sales of food, fuel, alcohol etc; this has to be good for the community. 

Even though we do free camping to keep overall costs down we do go to van parks from time to time so they do OK too.  Australia is a big country with lots to see but if the free sites are taken away from us then I would just sell my camping gear and stay home where I can spend my money locally – Anon.

CARAVAN PARKS ARE too expensive for a small amount of electricity and water, so why bother staying at them when self contained. We don't need all the bells and whistles some provide - Brian Parry

MY WIFE AND I spent three months travelling Tassie in our caravan, and if we could not have had some free camping , the cost of getting our rig over to Tassie would have been too much on top of caravan park fees - Bob

WE PAY ENOUGH to take our rigs over plus we contribute by way of fuel, food, shopping in general, and museums etc - Mick & Marion Bell

IF THE GOVERNMENT bends to the wishes of the caravan parks the local townships and the Tassie economy will lose considerably the dollars spent in those townships by the nomads, who will forget about Tassie completely. Caravan parks in numbers are small in comparison to all other businesses that benefit. Don't be so short sighted - Maurie Unwin

WELL, GOOD ON these thoughtless councils and caravan park owners/managers for wanting to charge for overnight stays at designated free camps.

Do these people ever consider how much caravanners and motorhomers spend in little towns? This is money that they would not get if everyone stayed in caravan parks in main towns and got their supplies from mainline supermarkets.

Caravan park owners/managers just have to realise that mobile travellers do not have the cash for the ever increasing charges of caravan parks. If they want our custom then they have to provide a product at a reasonable and steady cost to consumers.

Get greedy and you will stop mainland travellers from forking out firstly for ferry travel  and secondly from paying your excessive charges to stay at caravan parks. Steady up a bit and think about what you are doing - John Donnellan

UNTIL THE PEOPLE behind the desks get out and have a life this will be the type of mistakes they make which will cause harm to the tourist dollar which support their state - Wayne Partridge

THE GOVERNMENT NEEDS to consider very carefully on this matter. There will always be those who will never go to caravan parks and those who will sometimes, while others always go there. I think the caravan parks will lose more than they think if this comes about through people boycotting Tassie and a massive amount will be lost to all the other businesses by fewer customers.

Councils will always supply some services that are free; BBQs, water taps and tables in parks, water fountains, and public toilets are a few. Caravanners and motorhomers use these just the same as other travelling public though much less as we have our own toilets which we clean ourselves, our own power supply and are very frugal with water.

I have already resigned myself to not being in Tassie again but am now awaiting the outcome of this.  A lot of businesses that will lose should be very vocal. Just maybe we will be able to come back, or we’ll have stay at home because of a few whingers - John Kenyon 

THERE ARE MANY of us that won't go to Tassie due to already high cost to enter (approximately $2000 to get there). This is a great deterrent to begin with. I can’t speak for others but I'm sure most of us wouldn't mind a minimal fee. But then we would expect the amenities to be kept up to standard.

Just imagine if somehow the cost factor was reduced the flow into the Apple Isle would be much greater thus more dollars spent. I have for many a year wanted to take my family in the van but due to the cost factor went elsewhere.
More people in more dollars spent. Something to ponder over - Brian Gay
 
WELL, IF THE councils and government of Tasmania are so shortsighted to not value the mega bucks that grey nomads and RV users spend within Tasmania on fuel, food, services, tours etc and the impact that has on the economy and jobs, then go right ahead.

People bringing vans, motorhomes and campertrailers on the Spirit (of Tasmania ferry) already spend significant amounts not encountered going to other States. Have a long think before you finish up destroying most of your tourist industry and increasing your unemployment rate even further - John Honeysett

MY WIFE AND I are buying a caravan and were planning on going to Tassie for the first time.  We like the idea of free camping some of the time and some of the time in caravan parks like other people but if the government is going to force people into caravan parks after the cost of the boat we will not go. It will be out of our reach and Tasmania will be the loser in the end - Ron.  

THEY HAVE ALREADY stopped visitors from camping at the footy field at Swansea on the east coast. Try to get a park around Devonport or Port Sorrel on the North Coast that will accept pets. Tassie is fast becoming a no go zone for grey nomads.

We heard on the grapevine although not confirmed that after the previous article regarding no free or low cost camping, as many as 1000 bookings were cancelled on the boat - Wayne

THE NORTH OF the state welcomes us and we spend a lot of money in the small towns that let us free park. There are not enough parks anyway and in the south, there’s nowhere to park, free or paying. I love Tassie and I come for four months every year but if I have to pay more, I'll have to reconsider. The pension only goes so far - Kim Barwick

THE MAJORITY OF council-owned showgrounds etc currently have no charge at all with a few supplying full facilities. To think that four caravan parks complained about the council camping facilities. Caravan parks have been busily installing cabins to the detriment of camp sites. Free camping assists in offsetting the cost of the TT-Line ferries.

The latest is that Parks and Wildlife are going to implement a charge of $13 per night in the Bay of Fires conservation campgrounds in the latter part of 2012. The Traditional Campers Association has corresponded with the various ministers opposing this and are now awaiting a reply - Jim Challis

LOCAL GOVERNMENTS ARE trying to profit from the 'grey nomad' experience. These same councils are pricing their rates to park owners in order to again further their profits and it's the park owners who are heard because they are the ones propping up the councils profit base. Local councils need to 'serve' and assist their rate-payers by not rorting with their exorbitant rates in the first place - Errol Morris

TOTALLY AGREE WITH the concern.  We have been to Tassie several times.  We always make a point of spending money in the town that provides free or low cost camping and I am sure most travellers feel the same. 

There is no way a lot of travellers could afford firstly the expense of the ferry plus caravan park fees every night.  Apart from that, we do not like caravan parks and avoid them wherever possible.  We won’t be back if we are forced into a park every night - Louise Enright

I AGREE THAT a nominal fee is applicable and under $10/night is probably realistic for limited, no hot showers camps.  One comment is that facilities are provided at the expense of ratepayers and local businesses. 

This may in part be true, but how much money is put into local businesses by the campers and would the ratepayers have the level of services without the support of the campers? - Bill Watkins

TO SAY THAT ratepayers are subsidising low camping costs is to ignore the business and cash that comes when RV users use the services and spend money in local towns. This flow on effect in attracting involvement in local communities keeps towns alive - Owen Secombe

WHAT THEY FORGET is grey nomads spend money in these towns in local businesses on fuel , food and gifts so we support local business. A number of small Queensland towns have found we stop and support them if we can get reasonable places to stay. If we have to pay up to $45 per night -- in at 4pm out 10am -- it means we will not be on the road as much and a lot of small businesses will lose out.

Ask the country towns in Queensland when they were waiting  for the grey nomads to come back after the floods and a lot were helping locals with flood help when they stopped on their travels . If they want to be silly and stop the free or cheap camping go ahead see how much it costs small town business. A lot of grey nomads do not want to stay in caravan parks because they have got greedy.

If they want to charge the grey nomads are they going to charge other tourists to use BBQs and toilets in parks and beside the beach? We have our own cooking gear and most grey nomads leave places cleaner when they leave than when they arrive to try and preserve these areas for all - John Embleton

I HAVE ALREADY given my opinion in other forums but after reading the statement that ratepayers are paying for the low cost or free camping areas, I think they need to be reminded of the income brought in to their state let alone their council area and without this income they may find they are affected financially in a worse way than the small amount it takes for the upkeep of free camping areas with no amenities.

I doubt that travellers would complain of a small fee for a site with amenities. I believe caravan parks are responsible for more and more self contained vehicles with their ever-increasing unjustifiable fees and the fact that there is less and less room for RVs with the cabins they are erecting.

My advice to them is to work what market they want and stop complaining; business is business. Do bookshops complain about the council libraries? I think not. These parks have become unaffordable for long term stays. Having said that even self contained RVs will spend some time in parks - John Fulcher

AS A RV’ER and member of the CMCA we travel with a philosophy of financially supporting RV friendly towns. I would consider any change to the current systems in place in Tasmania as non-friendly and as such would support any sanctioned boycott. On a recent trip to the isle my wife and I were spending approximately $150 per day over 14 days plus the cost of travel to Tasmania.

If this amount was multiplied by many thousands of Rv'ers with the same beliefs then the Government would see just how much we contribute to the local businesses and economy, for a minimal cost or free overnight stay.

Caravan parks do not necessarily meet the needs of motorhomers as we are self-contained and the fees charged by them seem to be out of proportion to our relative requirements - J Parker

I WOULD BE happy to pay a low fee of $5 per night to help to keep sites tidy and recover costs - Charles Carabott

WHY SHOULD GREY nomads be given subsidized camping? Legitimate caravan parks should not have to compete with the 'free' camps. I am a grey nomad happy to pay my way and look forward to going to Tassie - Pat Harrison