I read with dismay in the latest edition of GN Times that a W.A. Caravan Park operator has actively (and successfully) lobbied local council to have an overnight stop at Memorial Road north of Albany shut down. It is interesting that there was also support of 40 local businesses to the local Caravan Park submission. Six out of eight local Councillors voted to close the overnight stop. With the numbers above it would seem the local business community support the closure of yet another rest stop in favour of a Caravan Park.
I understand CP's have done it hard recently but I take exception to a CP lobbying to close down an alternative rest stop in an effort to direct all travelers to use their park and pay their fees.
My intention is to give this place, with it's CP, 40 supporters and Councillors a wide berth and carry on to a more welcoming destination.
How else do we get through to these inward-looking people that they are taking the wrong course?
Wanda said
08:46 AM Feb 6, 2021
Can't understand that thought of thinking, so negative.
It may come back and bite them on their arse!
With social media today it won't take long for the word to get out and people who travel through, and spend money, will not open their wallets.
regards
Ian
travelyounger said
08:48 AM Feb 6, 2021
Hi
It seems strange that MT Barker council is taking this approach to overnight free camping as most people who use this one which is right in town will spend their money on something in town.
I have spent a lot of time travelling the SW from Perth to Esperance and the Wheat Belt areas and amazed by the amount of free camping available in these towns Katanning just one to mention .Its a pity MT Barker is a nice town but you dont need more than a day to see it .
Cheers
travelyounger said
09:08 AM Feb 6, 2021
I should also mention the free camp at Bulahdelah NSW.
There has been a new caravan park recently built at this town and previously there was talk of the free camp closing but never heard anything more.I drove in to the free camp the other day and was not surprised to see all gates locked with closed signs blaming it on the virus.Seems a bit strange as all the other free camps and rest areas are open maybe that town deserves the big drive by as well.
Cheers (but to the council)not
Brodie Allen said
05:27 PM Feb 6, 2021
travelyounger wrote:
I should also mention the free camp at Bulahdelah NSW. There has been a new caravan park recently built at this town and previously there was talk of the free camp closing but never heard anything more.I drove in to the free camp the other day and was not surprised to see all gates locked with closed signs blaming it on the virus.Seems a bit strange as all the other free camps and rest areas are open maybe that town deserves the big drive by as well.
Cheers (but to the council)not
The Vanparks Association are busy at work lobbying councils to protect the Parks.
Councils have no concept of the part that the nomads play in the tourism spend outside
of holiday parks. The nomads will never be bullied into parks and will go to other destinations
to the detriment of the towns generally.
Get vocal - speak up at info offices, web sites, Councils . . . . .
bgt said
05:31 PM Feb 6, 2021
Caravan parks have been playing this game for years and years. The closures of free parks always get the headlines but not the new sites that get opened.
yobarr said
05:51 PM Feb 6, 2021
bgt wrote:
Caravan parks have been playing this game for years and years. The closures of free parks always get the headlines but not the new sites that get opened.
Perhaps we could make a list of "free camping unfriendly" towns,and ensure that they are visited only for day trips.I certainly have! Cheers
Kebbin said
07:42 PM Feb 6, 2021
So you happy campers want to attack not only the Caravan Parks and have their employees out of work, but also the towns people who are just trying to get from one day to another. Your my bl**dy hero's.
yobarr said
07:54 PM Feb 6, 2021
Kebbin wrote:
So you happy campers want to attack not only the Caravan Parks and have their employees out of work, but also the towns people who are just trying to get from one day to another. Your my bl**dy hero's.
Do you not understand that travellers bring mega-dollars to small towns,and that this money filters down through the community,helping everybody? By making it virtually compulsory for these travellers to use the over priced (check website) caravan park,the town is encouraging those travellers to move on......seems that there is lots of free camping available not too far distant? Greed is like jealousy..a disease.Cheers
P.S We are not bluddy "hero's",nor heroes.
oldbloke said
08:09 PM Feb 6, 2021
Nothing new. Its the "trickle up" system. The CP may get a few more $ but at the expense of the town in general.
Greg 1 said
02:04 AM Feb 7, 2021
The park rates in the south West of WA can be astronomic particularly at holiday season. It is little wonder grey nomads seak cheaper alternatives.
As mentioned, what councils fail to consider is that these travellers still spend money in their town, but if they are having to pay exorbitant fees to a park operator then the money is not going to be spread around the other businesses in town or the nomads will just move on to where they are more appreciated.
Even if the councils put a nominal fee on some of these camps to cover maintenance, it would still encourage nomads who don't need playgrounds, bouncey castles and other facilities aimed at young families.
Tony LEE said
07:32 AM Feb 7, 2021
."Seems a bit strange as all the other free camps and rest areas are open maybe that town deserves the big drive by as well..Seems a bit strange as all the other free camps and rest areas are open maybe that town deserves the big drive by as well." .....
. Given that Bulahdelah has been giving you a free ride for many years - riverside camp, bowling club, showgrounds, golf club, maybe you could spend a few minutes finding out the reasons for these closures and if necessary, complain to the council and the big 4 Park if that is the reason. Remember that there has been a caravan park in bulahdelah for 50 years so commercial conflicts instigated by council may not have been the reason.
Just don't blame the people of Bulahdelah.
-- Edited by Tony LEE on Sunday 7th of February 2021 07:33:36 AM
-- Edited by Tony LEE on Sunday 7th of February 2021 07:42:31 AM
Gundog said
08:10 AM Feb 7, 2021
One of my biggest grips is the people that expect free camps within the town/city limits, and if they do decide to close the town sites you want to blacklist them because they oppose your free loading ideals. I would like you to show me where when I visit Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth where the free camp is within the city limits, you cannot expect the bush to provide you free camping when the city doesn't.
Spare a thought for the town that you expect their rate payers to provide and maintain a free camp for which you may or may not spend a penny in their town, on the reverse side of the coin the Caravan park owner has to pay rates insurance etc, along with providing employment for contractors and in some cases park staff. This has a greater trickle down effect in the survival of a town.
On the other hand the free campers would go bunta, if I rolled up in a camp setup then fired up my generator and ran it all night.
bgt said
08:50 AM Feb 7, 2021
This isn't a simple problem. Some say the grey nomads spend big in towns with free camping. Most don't. There are hundreds of small towns that are happy to offer free or low cost camping. So why worry about the handful who don't offer free camping?
But something everyone on this forum needs to understand. We represent just a very small minority of RVers. We are all active on this forum and probably others. There are thousands of other RVer pottering around the country happily paying for campgrounds. While thousands more just park where is suits them.
Gundog it's not a matter of 'free loading'. Many many RVers/grey nomads are on very limited budgets. Without the 'free loading' they wouldn't be able to be on the road.
15 years ago there were no RV Friendly Towns. Now I believe there are over 300 of them. Also many small towns have jumped on the band wagon without becoming an RV Friendly Town. There are always choices in life. Pay the caravan park fee or move on. Whether you choose to stop in a town is your free choice.
travelyounger said
08:56 AM Feb 7, 2021
Tony LEE wrote:
."Seems a bit strange as all the other free camps and rest areas are open maybe that town deserves the big drive by as well..Seems a bit strange as all the other free camps and rest areas are open maybe that town deserves the big drive by as well." .....
. Given that Bulahdelah has been giving you a free ride for many years - riverside camp, bowling club, showgrounds, golf club, maybe you could spend a few minutes finding out the reasons for these closures and if necessary, complain to the council and the big 4 Park if that is the reason. Remember that there has been a caravan park in bulahdelah for 50 years so commercial conflicts instigated by council may not have been the reason.
Just don't blame the people of Bulahdelah.
-- Edited by Tony LEE on Sunday 7th of February 2021 07:33:36 AM
-- Edited by Tony LEE on Sunday 7th of February 2021 07:42:31 AM
Since when do out of Towners get a say in council or town decision making we do not pay the rates.I would put my house on that the majority of travellers would not bother stopping in that town now since it was bypassed.I bet the local pubs and cafes are not happy about it being shut down and the people of Bulahdelah would not give two hoots as it does not effect any residents where the camp is.First thing on Monday I will call council and enquire as to its closure maybe the business in the town need to speak up as well ,any one been to the new park ??? just curious or stay at the other park.
Cheers
Gundog said
10:00 AM Feb 7, 2021
travelyounger wrote:
Tony LEE wrote:
."Seems a bit strange as all the other free camps and rest areas are open maybe that town deserves the big drive by as well..Seems a bit strange as all the other free camps and rest areas are open maybe that town deserves the big drive by as well." .....
. Given that Bulahdelah has been giving you a free ride for many years - riverside camp, bowling club, showgrounds, golf club, maybe you could spend a few minutes finding out the reasons for these closures and if necessary, complain to the council and the big 4 Park if that is the reason. Remember that there has been a caravan park in bulahdelah for 50 years so commercial conflicts instigated by council may not have been the reason.
Just don't blame the people of Bulahdelah.
-- Edited by Tony LEE on Sunday 7th of February 2021 07:33:36 AM
-- Edited by Tony LEE on Sunday 7th of February 2021 07:42:31 AM
Since when do out of Towners get a say in council or town decision making we do not pay the rates.I would put my house on that the majority of travellers would not bother stopping in that town now since it was bypassed.I bet the local pubs and cafes are not happy about it being shut down and the people of Bulahdelah would not give two hoots as it does not effect any residents where the camp is.First thing on Monday I will call council and enquire as to its closure maybe the business in the town need to speak up as well ,any one been to the new park ??? just curious or stay at the other park.
Cheers
Hi John I just had a look at the web site for the Big 4 at Bulahdelah, I suspect that the park gouldnt give a toss about the free camp, the money they have invested into the park, those over the river would never stay at a facility like it.
watsea said
10:27 AM Feb 7, 2021
Because of COVID travel restrictions and road changes, I would think it would be difficult to make a true assessment of whether a closure of a free camping site made a real difference to business within any town.
As a point of interest, Norseman, WA offers a free camping area in the town. On that site, there is a box where travellers are requested to insert any dockets from purchases made in Norseman. Supposedly, someone goes through those dockets to assess how much expenditure comes into the town from those using the camping area.
vince56 said
12:22 PM Feb 7, 2021
Kebbin wrote:
So you happy campers want to attack not only the Caravan Parks and have their employees out of work, but also the towns people who are just trying to get from one day to another. Your my bl**dy hero's.
Thank you for your intelligent and thoughtful input, read the post, it is not an attack, it is simply pointing out the facts. As others have said the town will probably suffer as a whole because GN's won't stay there! The CP might earn a few bob at the expense of the town.
Getting a liitle tired of bored people posting junk to get a rise.
Teo said
12:26 PM Feb 7, 2021
Unfortunately, as long campers continue to leave the rubbish around these sites that they do and park overnight in truck zones, anyone who is anti freedom camping will gain ammunition to lobby authorities to close the area.
As bgt said the readers on this (and other caravaners) forums are only a small number of vanners out there and a lot of them dont give a toss if a free camp area is closed as they never use them.
travelyounger said
12:37 PM Feb 7, 2021
watsea wrote:
Because of COVID travel restrictions and road changes, I would think it would be difficult to make a true assessment of whether a closure of a free camping site made a real difference to business within any town.
As a point of interest, Norseman, WA offers a free camping area in the town. On that site, there is a box where travellers are requested to insert any dockets from purchases made in Norseman. Supposedly, someone goes through those dockets to assess how much expenditure comes into the town from those using the camping area.
Yes thats a good way of proving how much we spend in the towns they do the same at Rocky creek in the Atherton Tablelands although a much bigger camp they all seem to get on with each other in harmony .I dont have any grudges about caravan parks they are really not my cup of tea unless they are somewhere where I want to stay then Ill pay
Cheers
Bobdown said
12:51 PM Feb 7, 2021
vince56 wrote:
HI All,
I read with dismay in the latest edition of GN Times that a W.A. Caravan Park operator has actively (and successfully) lobbied local council to have an overnight stop at Memorial Road north of Albany shut down. It is interesting that there was also support of 40 local businesses to the local Caravan Park submission. Six out of eight local Councillors voted to close the overnight stop. With the numbers above it would seem the local business community support the closure of yet another rest stop in favour of a Caravan Park.
I understand CP's have done it hard recently but I take exception to a CP lobbying to close down an alternative rest stop in an effort to direct all travelers to use their park and pay their fees.
My intention is to give this place, with it's CP, 40 supporters and Councillors a wide berth and carry on to a more welcoming destination.
How else do we get through to these inward-looking people that they are taking the wrong course?
Hi Vince,
I rang the Shire President when I saw this outcome in the local news, it has been closed for about 9 months due to Covid anyway.
The main story I gathered from him was that it was in the wrong place in town, just a carpark with no facilities and therefore some free campers using the bushes around the carpark as a toilet.
I informed him that the Free campers would not spend a dollar at the Caravan Park, as they preferred to sleep elsewhere such as Rest areas and gravel pits either side of Mt Barker.
I also suggested that Frost Park could accommodate Free Campers with a 24 hr toilet block and grassed areas to camp on, to which he agreed.
The Caravan park owner has been trying to close it for 8 years, and only succeeded by getting a generic letter signed by the 2 pubs, butcher and other businesses in the main street in support of him.
The Shire President smelled a rat as all the letters were the same, but Council voted to close anyway. I told him it was short sighted and he agreed.
I mentioned other places like York that encourage free campers, to which he recognizes the benefit to the Shire and will bring up at a later date, as the Shire cannot be seen as being in a business opposed to the CP.
I will continue to lobby for a Free camp, as the CP owner has done nothing to update his facilities and attract more business. Some owners don't realize that a certain number of Nomads will always avoid CP's.
Cheers Bob
yobarr said
01:09 PM Feb 7, 2021
Bobdown wrote:
vince56 wrote:
HI All,
I read with dismay in the latest edition of GN Times that a W.A. Caravan Park operator has actively (and successfully) lobbied local council to have an overnight stop at Memorial Road north of Albany shut down. It is interesting that there was also support of 40 local businesses to the local Caravan Park submission. Six out of eight local Councillors voted to close the overnight stop. With the numbers above it would seem the local business community support the closure of yet another rest stop in favour of a Caravan Park.
I understand CP's have done it hard recently but I take exception to a CP lobbying to close down an alternative rest stop in an effort to direct all travelers to use their park and pay their fees.
My intention is to give this place, with it's CP, 40 supporters and Councillors a wide berth and carry on to a more welcoming destination.
How else do we get through to these inward-looking people that they are taking the wrong course?
Hi Vince,
I rang the Shire President when I saw this outcome in the local news, it has been closed for about 9 months due to Covid anyway.
The main story I gathered from him was that it was in the wrong place in town, just a carpark with no facilities and therefore some free campers using the bushes around the carpark as a toilet.
I informed him that the Free campers would not spend a dollar at the Caravan Park, as they preferred to sleep elsewhere such as Rest areas and gravel pits either side of Mt Barker.
I also suggested that Frost Park could accommodate Free Campers with a 24 hr toilet block and grassed areas to camp on, to which he agreed.
The Caravan park owner has been trying to close it for 8 years, and only succeeded by getting a generic letter signed by the 2 pubs, butcher and other businesses in the main street in support of him.
The Shire President smelled a rat as all the letters were the same, but Council voted to close anyway. I told him it was short sighted and he agreed.
I mentioned other places like York that encourage free campers, to which he recognizes the benefit to the Shire and will bring up at a later date, as the Shire cannot be seen as being in a business opposed to the CP.
I will continue to lobby for a Free camp, as the CP owner has done nothing to update his facilities and attract more business. Some owners don't realize that a certain number of Nomads will always avoid CP's.
Cheers Bob
Hi Bob...thanks for your efforts in trying to have some sort of free camp provided in your town.Because I am 100% self contained,I do not really need facilities, and prefer to camp in the bush,but it is the principle that matters here.Some self-centred caravan park owner making in virtually compulsory for any visitors to use his caravan park? Not for this Rubber Ducky.....I'll just keep driving.Thanks again.Cheers.
bgt said
02:02 PM Feb 7, 2021
Just a general comment 're free parks.
There are "Competitive Neutrallity " laws that any government body must consider. However within those laws is a section that enables local councils to act in the best interest of the residents. In a nut she'll it means a council can open up a camp area despite objections from caravan parks if they deem it a benefit to the residents as a whole.
It gets complicated though. It's a federal "law" but a "law" that allows each state to make variations.
If they charge a fee, as in a council owned show grounds, there are caps on how much they can earn in a 12 month period.
Tony Bev said
02:12 PM Feb 7, 2021
yobarr wrote:
Bobdown wrote:
vince56 wrote:
HI All,
I read with dismay in the latest edition of GN Times that a W.A. Caravan Park operator has actively (and successfully) lobbied local council to have an overnight stop at Memorial Road north of Albany shut down. It is interesting that there was also support of 40 local businesses to the local Caravan Park submission. Six out of eight local Councillors voted to close the overnight stop. With the numbers above it would seem the local business community support the closure of yet another rest stop in favour of a Caravan Park.
I understand CP's have done it hard recently but I take exception to a CP lobbying to close down an alternative rest stop in an effort to direct all travelers to use their park and pay their fees.
My intention is to give this place, with it's CP, 40 supporters and Councillors a wide berth and carry on to a more welcoming destination.
How else do we get through to these inward-looking people that they are taking the wrong course?
Hi Vince,
I rang the Shire President when I saw this outcome in the local news, it has been closed for about 9 months due to Covid anyway.
The main story I gathered from him was that it was in the wrong place in town, just a carpark with no facilities and therefore some free campers using the bushes around the carpark as a toilet.
I informed him that the Free campers would not spend a dollar at the Caravan Park, as they preferred to sleep elsewhere such as Rest areas and gravel pits either side of Mt Barker.
I also suggested that Frost Park could accommodate Free Campers with a 24 hr toilet block and grassed areas to camp on, to which he agreed.
The Caravan park owner has been trying to close it for 8 years, and only succeeded by getting a generic letter signed by the 2 pubs, butcher and other businesses in the main street in support of him.
The Shire President smelled a rat as all the letters were the same, but Council voted to close anyway. I told him it was short sighted and he agreed.
I mentioned other places like York that encourage free campers, to which he recognizes the benefit to the Shire and will bring up at a later date, as the Shire cannot be seen as being in a business opposed to the CP.
I will continue to lobby for a Free camp, as the CP owner has done nothing to update his facilities and attract more business. Some owners don't realize that a certain number of Nomads will always avoid CP's.
Cheers Bob
Hi Bob...thanks for your efforts in trying to have some sort of free camp provided in your town.Because I am 100% self contained,I do not really need facilities, and prefer to camp in the bush,but it is the principle that matters here.Some self-centred caravan park owner making in virtually compulsory for any visitors to use his caravan park? Not for this Rubber Ducky.....I'll just keep driving.Thanks again.Cheers.
X2 Thanks Bob, for what you have done
The year before last (I think), I stayed in that car park (designated overnight stop), for a few hours around lunch time
I stopped there (and not any other place), as I knew that the town had a free camp.
I spent money there, instead of the larger town of Albany, which is around 50 kilometres down the road
Aus-Kiwi said
02:12 PM Feb 7, 2021
I have said it before . Cant believe how some towns creat a GOOD atmosphere while others close things down ! They become very negative! The town seems very dull . While outgoing towns that allow tables on shop fronts etc so they can operate with in the rules of social distance etc are progressing ! Seems C19 is an excuse not to employ cleaner, lawn mowing contractors to lower costs ? At their own peril !!!
Bobdown said
03:59 PM Feb 7, 2021
Thanks Yobarr and Tony,
I too have stayed there twice when we were house hunting a couple of years ago, just a carpark but convenient to the shops in town.
I will continue to push for a free camp in Mount Barker as there are benefits to both parties.
We have 12 acres about 3k from town, with a 4 acre fenced paddock at the rear of the house, that anyone can stay if they wish to, as I suggested to the Shire Pres, I'll set up my own Free Camp.
Cheers Bob
Brodie Allen said
06:25 PM Feb 7, 2021
Is it true that the Council is going to close the op-shop
because the clothing store doesn't like it? Or the library
because the newsagent has objected?
(Speaking metaphorically, of course, but you get the picture)!
bgt said
08:55 PM Feb 7, 2021
I know of a bakery that was forced to close because of the pressure put on the council by the Maccas over the road. It happens. Motels have tried to stop parks putting in cabins.
Tony LEE said
09:36 PM Feb 7, 2021
Re the Bulahdelah situation. Have been out of town for 18 months except for two hours just before the lockdowns started when I got off the rail link bus, jumped into our old Hino motorhome and took off so they couldn't lock us down
So tomorrow I'll ring one of the main movers of the Lions free camp and get the facts.
Brodie Allen said
09:07 AM Feb 8, 2021
vince56 wrote:
Kebbin wrote:
So you happy campers want to attack not only the Caravan Parks and have their employees out of work, but also the towns people who are just trying to get from one day to another. Your my bl**dy hero's.
Thank you for your intelligent and thoughtful input, read the post, it is not an attack, it is simply pointing out the facts. As others have said the town will probably suffer as a whole because GN's won't stay there! The CP might earn a few bob at the expense of the town.
Getting a liitle tired of bored people posting junk to get a rise.
Poor old van park
The not-so-well-off nomads will stay elsewhere or stay home because they can't afford the $40 to $75 dollars
that the park charges.
Nomads have only two choices - stay at the park and park benefits,
or stay at the freecamp and go up town for a meal, a coffee, a cake, etc. and varied shops benefit generally.
HI All,
I read with dismay in the latest edition of GN Times that a W.A. Caravan Park operator has actively (and successfully) lobbied local council to have an overnight stop at Memorial Road north of Albany shut down. It is interesting that there was also support of 40 local businesses to the local Caravan Park submission. Six out of eight local Councillors voted to close the overnight stop. With the numbers above it would seem the local business community support the closure of yet another rest stop in favour of a Caravan Park.
I understand CP's have done it hard recently but I take exception to a CP lobbying to close down an alternative rest stop in an effort to direct all travelers to use their park and pay their fees.
My intention is to give this place, with it's CP, 40 supporters and Councillors a wide berth and carry on to a more welcoming destination.
How else do we get through to these inward-looking people that they are taking the wrong course?
It may come back and bite them on their arse!
With social media today it won't take long for the word to get out and people who travel through, and spend money, will not open their wallets.
regards
Ian
It seems strange that MT Barker council is taking this approach to overnight free camping as most people who use this one which is right in town will spend their money on something in town.
I have spent a lot of time travelling the SW from Perth to Esperance and the Wheat Belt areas and amazed by the amount of free camping available in these towns Katanning just one to mention .Its a pity MT Barker is a nice town but you dont need more than a day to see it .
Cheers
There has been a new caravan park recently built at this town and previously there was talk of the free camp closing but never heard anything more.I drove in to the free camp the other day and was not surprised to see all gates locked with closed signs blaming it on the virus.Seems a bit strange as all the other free camps and rest areas are open maybe that town deserves the big drive by as well.
Cheers (but to the council)not
The Vanparks Association are busy at work lobbying councils to protect the Parks.
Councils have no concept of the part that the nomads play in the tourism spend outside
of holiday parks. The nomads will never be bullied into parks and will go to other destinations
to the detriment of the towns generally.
Get vocal - speak up at info offices, web sites, Councils . . . . .
Perhaps we could make a list of "free camping unfriendly" towns,and ensure that they are visited only for day trips.I certainly have! Cheers
Do you not understand that travellers bring mega-dollars to small towns,and that this money filters down through the community,helping everybody? By making it virtually compulsory for these travellers to use the over priced (check website) caravan park,the town is encouraging those travellers to move on......seems that there is lots of free camping available not too far distant? Greed is like jealousy..a disease.Cheers
P.S We are not bluddy "hero's",nor heroes.
."Seems a bit strange as all the other free camps and rest areas are open maybe that town deserves the big drive by as well..Seems a bit strange as all the other free camps and rest areas are open maybe that town deserves the big drive by as well." .....
. Given that Bulahdelah has been giving you a free ride for many years - riverside camp, bowling club, showgrounds, golf club, maybe you could spend a few minutes finding out the reasons for these closures and if necessary, complain to the council and the big 4 Park if that is the reason. Remember that there has been a caravan park in bulahdelah for 50 years so commercial conflicts instigated by council may not have been the reason.
Just don't blame the people of Bulahdelah.
-- Edited by Tony LEE on Sunday 7th of February 2021 07:33:36 AM
-- Edited by Tony LEE on Sunday 7th of February 2021 07:42:31 AM
One of my biggest grips is the people that expect free camps within the town/city limits, and if they do decide to close the town sites you want to blacklist them because they oppose your free loading ideals. I would like you to show me where when I visit Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth where the free camp is within the city limits, you cannot expect the bush to provide you free camping when the city doesn't.
Spare a thought for the town that you expect their rate payers to provide and maintain a free camp for which you may or may not spend a penny in their town, on the reverse side of the coin the Caravan park owner has to pay rates insurance etc, along with providing employment for contractors and in some cases park staff. This has a greater trickle down effect in the survival of a town.
On the other hand the free campers would go bunta, if I rolled up in a camp setup then fired up my generator and ran it all night.
But something everyone on this forum needs to understand. We represent just a very small minority of RVers. We are all active on this forum and probably others. There are thousands of other RVer pottering around the country happily paying for campgrounds. While thousands more just park where is suits them.
Gundog it's not a matter of 'free loading'. Many many RVers/grey nomads are on very limited budgets. Without the 'free loading' they wouldn't be able to be on the road.
15 years ago there were no RV Friendly Towns. Now I believe there are over 300 of them. Also many small towns have jumped on the band wagon without becoming an RV Friendly Town. There are always choices in life. Pay the caravan park fee or move on. Whether you choose to stop in a town is your free choice.
Since when do out of Towners get a say in council or town decision making we do not pay the rates.I would put my house on that the majority of travellers would not bother stopping in that town now since it was bypassed.I bet the local pubs and cafes are not happy about it being shut down and the people of Bulahdelah would not give two hoots as it does not effect any residents where the camp is.First thing on Monday I will call council and enquire as to its closure maybe the business in the town need to speak up as well ,any one been to the new park ??? just curious or stay at the other park.
Cheers
Hi John I just had a look at the web site for the Big 4 at Bulahdelah, I suspect that the park gouldnt give a toss about the free camp, the money they have invested into the park, those over the river would never stay at a facility like it.
As a point of interest, Norseman, WA offers a free camping area in the town. On that site, there is a box where travellers are requested to insert any dockets from purchases made in Norseman. Supposedly, someone goes through those dockets to assess how much expenditure comes into the town from those using the camping area.
Thank you for your intelligent and thoughtful input, read the post, it is not an attack, it is simply pointing out the facts. As others have said the town will probably suffer as a whole because GN's won't stay there! The CP might earn a few bob at the expense of the town.
Getting a liitle tired of bored people posting junk to get a rise.
As bgt said the readers on this (and other caravaners) forums are only a small number of vanners out there and a lot of them dont give a toss if a free camp area is closed as they never use them.
Yes thats a good way of proving how much we spend in the towns they do the same at Rocky creek in the Atherton Tablelands although a much bigger camp they all seem to get on with each other in harmony .I dont have any grudges about caravan parks they are really not my cup of tea unless they are somewhere where I want to stay then Ill pay
Cheers
Hi Vince,
I rang the Shire President when I saw this outcome in the local news, it has been closed for about 9 months due to Covid anyway.
The main story I gathered from him was that it was in the wrong place in town, just a carpark with no facilities and therefore some free campers using the bushes around the carpark as a toilet.
I informed him that the Free campers would not spend a dollar at the Caravan Park, as they preferred to sleep elsewhere such as Rest areas and gravel pits either side of Mt Barker.
I also suggested that Frost Park could accommodate Free Campers with a 24 hr toilet block and grassed areas to camp on, to which he agreed.
The Caravan park owner has been trying to close it for 8 years, and only succeeded by getting a generic letter signed by the 2 pubs, butcher and other businesses in the main street in support of him.
The Shire President smelled a rat as all the letters were the same, but Council voted to close anyway. I told him it was short sighted and he agreed.
I mentioned other places like York that encourage free campers, to which he recognizes the benefit to the Shire and will bring up at a later date, as the Shire cannot be seen as being in a business opposed to the CP.
I will continue to lobby for a Free camp, as the CP owner has done nothing to update his facilities and attract more business. Some owners don't realize that a certain number of Nomads will always avoid CP's.
Cheers Bob
Hi Bob...thanks for your efforts in trying to have some sort of free camp provided in your town.Because I am 100% self contained,I do not really need facilities, and prefer to camp in the bush,but it is the principle that matters here.Some self-centred caravan park owner making in virtually compulsory for any visitors to use his caravan park? Not for this Rubber Ducky.....I'll just keep driving.Thanks again.Cheers.
X2 Thanks Bob, for what you have done
The year before last (I think), I stayed in that car park (designated overnight stop), for a few hours around lunch time
I stopped there (and not any other place), as I knew that the town had a free camp.
I spent money there, instead of the larger town of Albany, which is around 50 kilometres down the road
Thanks Yobarr and Tony,
I too have stayed there twice when we were house hunting a couple of years ago, just a carpark but convenient to the shops in town.
I will continue to push for a free camp in Mount Barker as there are benefits to both parties.
We have 12 acres about 3k from town, with a 4 acre fenced paddock at the rear of the house, that anyone can stay if they wish to, as I suggested to the Shire Pres, I'll set up my own Free Camp.
Cheers Bob
because the clothing store doesn't like it? Or the library
because the newsagent has objected?
(Speaking metaphorically, of course, but you get the picture)!
that the park charges.
Nomads have only two choices - stay at the park and park benefits,
or stay at the freecamp and go up town for a meal, a coffee, a cake, etc. and varied shops benefit generally.
Which is better for the town?
As it is, nobody will get the spend!!