Grey Nomads take on unfriendly towns - Courier Mail article
Gerty Dancer said
11:54 AM Oct 28, 2012
Hmmm.... We dont see ourselves as a "travelling bank account"..... does anybody else?
PS edited to get the quote right.
-- Edited by Gerty Dancer on Sunday 28th of October 2012 11:57:59 AM
rockylizard said
12:41 PM Oct 28, 2012
Gday...
I have copied this quote from the article -
"Regional caravan parks packed with mining workers, dangerous road conditions and a shortage of roadside rest areas are among the factors forcing motorhome and caravan park owners to bypass some regions, or travel interstate." I have highlighted in red the incorrect word that needs deleting - just for accuracy.
As I have stated previously, I do have an issue with the very militant, almost threatening, stance being taken by CMCA - who have taken it upon themselves, to include, by inference, all motorhome/van owners. I have asked on this forum previously for any members of this forum who are CMCA members AND who attended the Boonah rally, to give us some feedback, please. I have not seen a response as yet. Is this "CMCA" campaign truly the stance being exposed by CMCA members? Was a vote taken at Boonah and if so what was the result?
Perhaps if a strong majority of CMCA members feel this way, then we (non-CMCA members) may just have to sit back, bite our collective lips and be prepared to ride the criticism from those offended by what is being proposed.
Is this agressive stance being taken by CMCA the genuine attitude of CMCA members, the attitude of the President or a policy stance developed within CMCA. In essence, who is the real instigator of this campaign.
I base my feelings of the militant, or threatening, or agressive stance being publicly pushed by CMCA not only from this quote from the Courier Mail article regarding the publication of a list of 'favoured towns/areas' but also from three radio interviewes I have listened to by Ken Kipping -
"The towns that are on [the list] are going to get rich," CMCA director Ken Kipping said.
"These are people that are literally travelling bank accounts. Either these small regional towns want them to stop and shop or they don't. If they (RV owners) think there is nowhere for them to stop, they won't come."
I, too, take umbrage to being described as being a "travelling bank account". Those on pensions (including self-funded), obviously have a bank account, but we are definitely not overally flush, as implied.
My biggest frustration in this, is the feeling of helplessness it creates as the CMCA is going to expend considerable resource, physcial and financial, to further their campaign while I have no 'voice' to counter the tone of their campaign.
Cheers - John
[edit: added the words 'the tone of' to the concluding sentence.]
-- Edited by rockylizard on Sunday 28th of October 2012 12:44:53 PM
Well I see myself as a "travelling bank account".... there just isnt much in the account lol
Scotty01 said
08:07 PM Oct 28, 2012
I am a member of CMCA but do not attend the rallies or meetings. I have read a lot about these complaints both in the magazine and online. My MotorHome is not as big as many but i do tow a Suzuki behind it. I have found it difficult to find places in some towns to park so you can shop so I just move on to the next town. Some RV Friendly towns have special areas for Motorhome and caravan parking, usually quite near to the main shopping area, As I understand it this is one of the situations CMCA is trying to promote, along with public dump points and comumity or free camping. Have read and heard first hand reports where people with big rigs were refused entry to caravan parks because of their size and the same parks are the ones campaining against open free parks. I know which towns I will go to.
Roving-Dutchy said
09:01 PM Oct 28, 2012
We are members of CMCA and I am happy that they are lobbying on our behalf for better facilities in country towns.
Some of the benefits that CMCA is trying to bring about in country towns.
Parking that is convenient to shops, dump points, rest area's, low cost or free overnight camping, negotiating with caravan parks to give discounts to CMCA members to encourage them to stay in their caravan park and attempting to stop councils closing, free or low cost camping area's, this is being driven by the lobbying by caravan park owners, who thing it is their god given right to make you use their caravan park.
CMCA by virtue of its large membership has the right to lobby on its members behalf to try to prevent the closure of free camping, otherwise eventually, we will all be forced to stay in caravan parks, if you wish to be near a town.
I cannot see that what CMCA is doing is in anyway detrimental to the ongoing enjoyment of all the RVing community.
What they are saying to country towns is, in effect, if you help us we will help you.
rockylizard said
09:43 PM Oct 28, 2012
Roving-Dutchy wrote:
---SNIPPED---
What they are saying to country towns is, in effect, if you help us we will help you.
Gday...
Thanks for the response Dutchy & Scotty. I can agree to, and accept, the things you have highlighted in your post Dutchy - and those things - if provided willingly by 'country towns' will be beneficial to all travellers.
My issue with the current "CMCA stance" is that Mr Ken Kipping, in his media interviews, is NOT saying "if you help us we will help you". Particularlly in the radio interviews I have heard, he is threatening, agressive and his overall tone draws the conclusion this is "a war" against those who, at their own peril, fail to provide "travelling bank accounts" with what "they deserve".
Interestingly, (and maybe thankfully) from what I have listened to, he (CMCA) are focussing particularly on the north East Coast of QLD, with some concern with 'mining towns'. Perhaps if CMCA (and its members) got the Australian Map out of the cupboard and marked on that map the places that are "so unwelcoming" it would become very apparent, that it is only a very small percentage of this wondrous land that "travelling bank accounts" have trouble with.
Again, my only concern is that if others accept his comments as what the general "old travelling public" think of their towns, we are going to build a considerable wall between the traveller and those who are still part of the tax, and rate, paying public.
Cheers - John
sandsmere said
09:57 PM Oct 28, 2012
We are also part of the around 70,000 CMCA membership , and are very happy to see them lobbying on our behalf .
The sooner that list of preferred towns comes out the better . ( and I bet a lot of non CMCA members will be trying
to get hold of it too ) . As they no doubt are happy to use the parking facilities , dump points etc. that CMCA have
been responsible for in their negotions with these progressive councils .
We certainly will keep spending our available few dollars in towns that welcome us , and bypassing those that don,t .
justcruisin01 said
10:48 PM Oct 28, 2012
This will become more interesting as time goes on, I just had a catchup phone call with GN's BriVee, who are camped beside a CMCA member , who informed them that the caravan assoc of Aust is trying to have a federal closure of ALL free, budget,showgrounds & roadside rest areas in Aus closed , so every one has to go to their parks. Just where are they going to park every one IF it was affordable to go to a park?
I have asked BriVee to obtain more details & figures from this CMCA member if possibile & post on here. Awaiting their posting.
JC.
milo said
11:00 PM Oct 28, 2012
thats the trouble with some parks being around $40 or more for a night
brickies said
11:42 PM Oct 28, 2012
I do hope the CMCA release the report on friendly towns , So I will know which towns to stay away from , I did see first hand a RV friendly town this winter it is called Mareeba , if you could see all these rigs packed into the Mareeba Rodeo grounds and Rocky Creek , If this is the result of RV friendly town I will go to were I can enjoy my life style
gst said
12:28 AM Oct 29, 2012
Think you mean caravan parks assoc of Australia are the ones trying to close all free camping and cheap parking areas.
mr glassies said
12:40 AM Oct 29, 2012
hahahaha what a joke did anyone read the comments cause i did and i left one to but i recon it will be edited but hey who gives a rats
dibs
rockylizard said
01:01 AM Oct 29, 2012
Gday...
Yes, I did read the comments in the article. Surprising how little support the commentators have for either GNs, travelling public or CMCA's stance.
Cheers - John
neilnruth said
02:26 AM Oct 29, 2012
rockylizard there is another group called 'Australian Caravan Club Limited' (the Club for all RV'ers) that also has a lobby group and hopefully they are doing the same thing for those of us who own caravans. www.australiancaravanclub.com.au It states that 'one of our main aims is to represent it's members through advocacy. We aim to represent the interests of our members to Governments, industry bodies and other stakeholders in a wide range of issues.... * overnight and rest areas and facilities * low cost camping * Technical Advisory Group ......etc Membership is open to all RV'ers including caravans, camper trailers, motorhomes and fifth wheelers.
Hmmm.... We dont see ourselves as a "travelling bank account"..... does anybody else?
PS edited to get the quote right.
-- Edited by Gerty Dancer on Sunday 28th of October 2012 11:57:59 AM
Gday...
I have copied this quote from the article -
"Regional caravan parks packed with mining workers, dangerous road conditions and a shortage of roadside rest areas are among the factors forcing motorhome and caravan park owners to bypass some regions, or travel interstate." I have highlighted in red the incorrect word that needs deleting - just for accuracy.
As I have stated previously, I do have an issue with the very militant, almost threatening, stance being taken by CMCA - who have taken it upon themselves, to include, by inference, all motorhome/van owners. I have asked on this forum previously for any members of this forum who are CMCA members AND who attended the Boonah rally, to give us some feedback, please. I have not seen a response as yet. Is this "CMCA" campaign truly the stance being exposed by CMCA members? Was a vote taken at Boonah and if so what was the result?
Perhaps if a strong majority of CMCA members feel this way, then we (non-CMCA members) may just have to sit back, bite our collective lips and be prepared to ride the criticism from those offended by what is being proposed.
Is this agressive stance being taken by CMCA the genuine attitude of CMCA members, the attitude of the President or a policy stance developed within CMCA. In essence, who is the real instigator of this campaign.
I base my feelings of the militant, or threatening, or agressive stance being publicly pushed by CMCA not only from this quote from the Courier Mail article regarding the publication of a list of 'favoured towns/areas' but also from three radio interviewes I have listened to by Ken Kipping -
"The towns that are on [the list] are going to get rich," CMCA director Ken Kipping said.
"These are people that are literally travelling bank accounts. Either these small regional towns want them to stop and shop or they don't. If they (RV owners) think there is nowhere for them to stop, they won't come."
I, too, take umbrage to being described as being a "travelling bank account". Those on pensions (including self-funded), obviously have a bank account, but we are definitely not overally flush, as implied.
My biggest frustration in this, is the feeling of helplessness it creates as the CMCA is going to expend considerable resource, physcial and financial, to further their campaign while I have no 'voice' to counter the tone of their campaign.
Cheers - John
[edit: added the words 'the tone of' to the concluding sentence.]
-- Edited by rockylizard on Sunday 28th of October 2012 12:44:53 PM
Article in this mornings CM
http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/grey-nomads-take-on-unfriendly-queensland-towns/story-e6freoof-1226504516850
We are members of CMCA and I am happy that they are lobbying on our behalf for better facilities in country towns.
Some of the benefits that CMCA is trying to bring about in country towns.
Parking that is convenient to shops, dump points, rest area's, low cost or free overnight camping, negotiating with caravan parks to give discounts to CMCA members to encourage them to stay in their caravan park and attempting to stop councils closing, free or low cost camping area's, this is being driven by the lobbying by caravan park owners, who thing it is their god given right to make you use their caravan park.
CMCA by virtue of its large membership has the right to lobby on its members behalf to try to prevent the closure of free camping, otherwise eventually, we will all be forced to stay in caravan parks, if you wish to be near a town.
I cannot see that what CMCA is doing is in anyway detrimental to the ongoing enjoyment of all the RVing community.
What they are saying to country towns is, in effect, if you help us we will help you.
Gday...
Thanks for the response Dutchy & Scotty. I can agree to, and accept, the things you have highlighted in your post Dutchy - and those things - if provided willingly by 'country towns' will be beneficial to all travellers.
My issue with the current "CMCA stance" is that Mr Ken Kipping, in his media interviews, is NOT saying "if you help us we will help you". Particularlly in the radio interviews I have heard, he is threatening, agressive and his overall tone draws the conclusion this is "a war" against those who, at their own peril, fail to provide "travelling bank accounts" with what "they deserve".
Interestingly, (and maybe thankfully) from what I have listened to, he (CMCA) are focussing particularly on the north East Coast of QLD, with some concern with 'mining towns'. Perhaps if CMCA (and its members) got the Australian Map out of the cupboard and marked on that map the places that are "so unwelcoming" it would become very apparent, that it is only a very small percentage of this wondrous land that "travelling bank accounts" have trouble with.
Again, my only concern is that if others accept his comments as what the general "old travelling public" think of their towns, we are going to build a considerable wall between the traveller and those who are still part of the tax, and rate, paying public.
Cheers - John
We are also part of the around 70,000 CMCA membership , and are very happy to see them lobbying on our behalf .
The sooner that list of preferred towns comes out the better . ( and I bet a lot of non CMCA members will be trying
to get hold of it too ) . As they no doubt are happy to use the parking facilities , dump points etc. that CMCA have
been responsible for in their negotions with these progressive councils .
We certainly will keep spending our available few dollars in towns that welcome us , and bypassing those that don,t .
This will become more interesting as time goes on, I just had a catchup phone call with GN's BriVee, who are camped beside a CMCA member , who informed them that the caravan assoc of Aust is trying to have a federal closure of ALL free, budget,showgrounds & roadside rest areas in Aus closed , so every one has to go to their parks. Just where are they going to park every one IF it was affordable to go to a park?
I have asked BriVee to obtain more details & figures from this CMCA member if possibile & post on here. Awaiting their posting.
JC.
thats the trouble with some parks being around $40 or more for a night
dibs
Gday...
Yes, I did read the comments in the article. Surprising how little support the commentators have for either GNs, travelling public or CMCA's stance.
Cheers - John
rockylizard there is another group called 'Australian Caravan Club Limited' (the Club for all RV'ers) that also has a lobby group and hopefully they are doing the same thing for those of us who own caravans.
www.australiancaravanclub.com.au
It states that 'one of our main aims is to represent it's members through advocacy. We aim to represent the interests of our members to Governments, industry bodies and other stakeholders in a wide range of issues....
* overnight and rest areas and facilities
* low cost camping
* Technical Advisory Group ......etc
Membership is open to all RV'ers including caravans, camper trailers, motorhomes and fifth wheelers.
I know that this club is involved with CMCA plus other clubs Australasian Touring Caravan, Motorhome & Caravan Club