The following was posted on facebook so I thought it pertinent to share.
Steve Williscroft.................Hello Travellers, firstly as a permanent resident and ratepayer in the Whitsunday region I would like to apologize for the disgusting behaviour of our council. I would also like to apologize for those offensive no camping signs that pollute our beautiful area. To the people who have been fined just for visiting us I am truly sorry.
I travel regularly around Queensland and choose to camp at national parks, free camps and rest areas. I have no need for caravan parks as my camper has everything I need for bush camping. Pools, jumping pillows, kitchens, showers, games rooms, power and water are things I don't require and should not be forced to pay for. I do not wish to sleep under the stars next to noisy air conditioners, televisions, generators, kids and dogs. There are thousands of tourists who feel likewise and our council's policy ensures that they bypass our region preferring to spend their money somewhere that... makes them feel welcome.
Every weekend large numbers of Whitsunday families head out camping on beaches, riverbanks, bushland and lakes. They camp in utes, tents, swags or huts. I have personally enjoyed nights camping with ex councillors and an ex mayor of our region. However, this practice appears to be a privilege reserved for locals only. Shops, businesses and service stations in both Proserpine and Airlie Beach are disappearing rapidly. This morning I counted 34 campervans between Proserpine and Shute Harbour. These wonderful people have risked large fines and police/council harassment to spend their money in our shops. Imagine the boost to our economy if we actually provided a parking area near the coast and encouraged these, the very tourists Airlie Beach caters for, to say for free.
If ever there was a town that would benefit massively from joining the RV Friendly Towns scheme then Proserpine is it. There is no official free camping from Sarina in the south to Home Hill in the north. For minimal investment Proserpine could become the focus of travellers using the Bruce Highway. Hopefully one day this region will wake up and start to grow again............................
dazren said
01:32 AM Jul 19, 2013
Thanks for the post Beth, a Good read, I think Steve is sympathetic to the problem because he is '' one of us'' ?? so to speak However in relation to his local council ??
All I can say is the are full of Self centered, arrogant, --- Hmmm how can i say this Politely ????
I Know ?? we all understand the alphabet don't we ?? Letter - 19 then letter - 8 then letter - 9 and last of all letter - 20
yep I think i got that correct [ and true ? ]
Beth54 said
01:36 AM Jul 19, 2013
dazren wrote:
Thanks for the post Beth, a Good read, I think Steve is sympathetic to the problem because he is '' one of us'' ?? so to speak However in relation to his local council ??
All I can say is the are full of Self centered, arrogant, --- Hmmm how can i say this Politely ????
I Know ?? we all understand the alphabet don't we ?? Letter - 19 then letter - 8 then letter - 9 and last of all letter - 20
yep I think i got that correct [ and true ? ]
Yep , got it.
Dougwe said
02:27 AM Jul 19, 2013
Wombat can't work that out cos he can only count to 10.
herbie said
03:32 AM Jul 19, 2013
Thanks for posting Beth I must say this man speaks for a lot of people who have the same thoughts, but not game enough to rock the boat
as the saying goes.And the part re going camping in the very places that are out so called bounds to us with the very people who helpto put these restrictions is place, I know is not just confined to this area,it goes on every where.I was at a caravan park once where the owner was boasting re getting a free camp out the road closed,and when I asked him where he was heading (as he had his camper trailer and tinny on top) His answer was Oh I am off up the river free camping as fishing !!!
Proserpine has even got this huge sign in the IGA displaying the rules of not being allowed to free camp in the area.
dazren said
03:43 AM Jul 19, 2013
Herbie wrote -- Proserpine has even got this huge sign in the IGA displaying the rules of not being allowed to free camp in the area.
I hope you did what i would have done, ????? I would have seen that sign went shopping, got a full and expensive trolley full, THEN i would have spotted the sign
asked for the Manager, and politely explained, that if his store supports that type of un-welcoming attitude to travellers !! Then i cannot justify My Supporting that type of business from my travelling dollars, and ask him if he could return my selections, back to the stock shelves.
dazren said
03:56 AM Jul 19, 2013
Douwe wrote ---- Wombat can't work that out cos he can only count to 10.
Now , Now Dougie !! I was speaking to Mrs wombat and she said that Womby can count to 20 [ if no socks on ? ] and 21 [ if no pants on ? ]
So he could have worked it out, because the highest letter was number 20
Mrs Womby also asked ?? if anyone on the forum seen Wombat, on the TV last night, ???? Apparently he went to the State of Origin game,, and went onto the ground before the game was finished, ?? and all these security guys had to chase him
Beth54 said
04:02 AM Jul 19, 2013
dazren wrote:
Herbie wrote -- Proserpine has even got this huge sign in the IGA displaying the rules of not being allowed to free camp in the area.
I hope you did what i would have done, ????? I would have seen that sign went shopping, got a full and expensive trolley full, THEN i would have spotted the sign
asked for the Manager, and politely explained, that if his store supports that type of un-welcoming attitude to travellers !! Then i cannot justify My Supporting that type of business from my travelling dollars, and ask him if he could return my selections, back to the stock shelves.
What a great idea dazren. If we all did that, it should surely make a mark on these places.
Wizardofoz said
07:26 AM Jul 19, 2013
dazren wrote:
Herbie wrote -- Proserpine has even got this huge sign in the IGA displaying the rules of not being allowed to free camp in the area.
I hope you did what i would have done, ????? I would have seen that sign went shopping, got a full and expensive trolley full, THEN i would have spotted the sign
asked for the Manager, and politely explained, that if his store supports that type of un-welcoming attitude to travellers !! Then i cannot justify My Supporting that type of business from my travelling dollars, and ask him if he could return my selections, back to the stock shelves.
Dazren, I do this in my local Woolworths when I go to the 'express' checkout and it is closed and the 'statues' (guides) come over and ask me to go through the 'electronic' checkout...when I politely decline they tell me that they will help me use it, and again I decline saying that "I don't support these machines as they take smovers movemovers move the service that your company charges me for". when they say "Sorry, you can always use one of the other checkouts" (which have customers with full trolleys waiting). I then just place the 1 to 6 items that I have on the express counter and leave, saying "No problem, I will go to Coles who always have the express isle open".
After only 2 or 3 times doing this the staff at Woolworths now come and open the 'express' lane when they see me coming.
They charge us for 'service' and offer us no discounts for serving ourselves...stuff them!!!
-- Edited by Wizardofoz on Friday 19th of July 2013 07:28:38 AM
-- Edited by Wizardofoz on Friday 19th of July 2013 07:29:56 AM
brickies said
05:27 PM Jul 19, 2013
We have to realize you can never have free camps in built up areas , If we want to stay at the beach we will always have to pay to do so and free camp were we can , Built area in towns have no room for free camping and in built up area bring in the wrong people and I for one would not camp with feral . Local council which have had free camps in built up areas have closed them because the trouble they bring , They can't have free camps and say it only for Grey Nomads
Beth54 said
10:20 PM Jul 19, 2013
Very true brickies. I think it's a bit unrealistic to think we can free camp for example, at the waterfront at Coolangatta, and even though this area is 'better' than Surfers Paradise, they have their problems during the night.
No, we'll always have to pay for prime real estate.
Wizardofoz, as a former retail person myself, I ask just please don't take it out on the staff. They're just doing their job.
In my opinion, the self serve checkouts don't really take away a job, because they always have to have a helper standing by, and that person would be on a regular checkout if they weren't standing there.
The dog lady said
04:53 AM Jul 21, 2013
dazren wrote:
Herbie wrote -- Proserpine has even got this huge sign in the IGA displaying the rules of not being allowed to free camp in the area.
I hope you did what i would have done, ????? I would have seen that sign went shopping, got a full and expensive trolley full, THEN i would have spotted the sign
asked for the Manager, and politely explained, that if his store supports that type of un-welcoming attitude to travellers !! Then i cannot justify My Supporting that type of business from my travelling dollars, and ask him if he could return my selections, back to the stock shelves.
I've done that when I was really . I don't know of a better way to make them listen to my message!
The dog lady said
05:12 AM Jul 21, 2013
Snip
I then just place the 1 to 6 items that I have on the express counter and leave, saying "No problem, I will go to Coles who always have the express isle open".
After only 2 or 3 times doing this the staff at Woolworths now come and open the 'express' lane when they see me coming.
They charge us for 'service' and offer us no discounts for serving ourselves...stuff them!!!
-- Edited by Wizardofoz on Friday 19th of July 2013 07:28:38 AM
-- Edited by Wizardofoz on Friday 19th of July 2013 07:29:56 AM
I started doing that at Coles in Bundaberg when I was still working and had to shop in my lunch break. After leaving my shopping behind 3 times, every time I went in they made sure that sufficient checkouts were open
The following was posted on facebook so I thought it pertinent to share.
I travel regularly around Queensland and choose to camp at national parks, free camps and rest areas. I have no need for caravan parks as my camper has everything I need for bush camping. Pools, jumping pillows, kitchens, showers, games rooms, power and water are things I don't require and should not be forced to pay for. I do not wish to sleep under the stars next to noisy air conditioners, televisions, generators, kids and dogs.
There are thousands of tourists who feel likewise and our council's policy ensures that they bypass our region preferring to spend their money somewhere that... makes them feel welcome.
Every weekend large numbers of Whitsunday families head out camping on beaches, riverbanks, bushland and lakes. They camp in utes, tents, swags or huts. I have personally enjoyed nights camping with ex councillors and an ex mayor of our region. However, this practice appears to be a privilege reserved for locals only.
Shops, businesses and service stations in both Proserpine and Airlie Beach are disappearing rapidly. This morning I counted 34 campervans between Proserpine and Shute Harbour. These wonderful people have risked large fines and police/council harassment to spend their money in our shops. Imagine the boost to our economy if we actually provided a parking area near the coast and encouraged these, the very tourists Airlie Beach caters for, to say for free.
If ever there was a town that would benefit massively from joining the RV Friendly Towns scheme then Proserpine is it. There is no official free camping from Sarina in the south to Home Hill in the north. For minimal investment Proserpine could become the focus of travellers using the Bruce Highway.
Hopefully one day this region will wake up and start to grow again............................
Thanks for the post Beth, a Good read, I think Steve is sympathetic to the problem because he is '' one of us'' ?? so to speak However in relation to his local council ??
All I can say is the are full of Self centered, arrogant, --- Hmmm how can i say this Politely ????
I Know ?? we all understand the alphabet don't we ?? Letter - 19 then letter - 8 then letter - 9 and last of all letter - 20
yep I think i got that correct [ and true ? ]
Yep , got it.
Thanks for posting Beth I must say this man speaks for a lot of people who have the same thoughts, but not game enough to rock the boat
as the saying goes.And the part re going camping in the very places that are out so called bounds to us with the very people who helpto put these restrictions is place, I know is not just confined to this area,it goes on every where.I was at a caravan park once where the owner was boasting re getting a free camp out the road closed,and when I asked him where he was heading (as he had his camper trailer and tinny on top) His answer was Oh I am off up the river free camping as fishing !!!
Proserpine has even got this huge sign in the IGA displaying the rules of not being allowed to free camp in the area.
Herbie wrote -- Proserpine has even got this huge sign in the IGA displaying the rules of not being allowed to free camp in the area.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I hope you did what i would have done, ????? I would have seen that sign went shopping, got a full and expensive trolley full, THEN i would have spotted the sign
asked for the Manager, and politely explained, that if his store supports that type of un-welcoming attitude to travellers !! Then i cannot justify My Supporting that type of business from my travelling dollars, and ask him if he could return my selections, back to the stock shelves.
Douwe wrote ---- Wombat can't work that out cos he can only count to 10.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Now , Now Dougie !! I was speaking to Mrs wombat and she said that Womby can count to 20 [ if no socks on ? ] and 21 [ if no pants on ? ]
So he could have worked it out, because the highest letter was number 20
Mrs Womby also asked ?? if anyone on the forum seen Wombat, on the TV last night, ???? Apparently he went to the State of Origin game,, and went onto the ground before the game was finished, ?? and all these security guys had to chase him
What a great idea dazren. If we all did that, it should surely make a mark on these places.
Dazren, I do this in my local Woolworths when I go to the 'express' checkout and it is closed and the 'statues' (guides) come over and ask me to go through the 'electronic' checkout...when I politely decline they tell me that they will help me use it, and again I decline saying that "I don't support these machines as they take smovers movemovers move the service that your company charges me for". when they say "Sorry, you can always use one of the other checkouts" (which have customers with full trolleys waiting). I then just place the 1 to 6 items that I have on the express counter and leave, saying "No problem, I will go to Coles who always have the express isle open".
After only 2 or 3 times doing this the staff at Woolworths now come and open the 'express' lane when they see me coming.
They charge us for 'service' and offer us no discounts for serving ourselves...stuff them!!!
-- Edited by Wizardofoz on Friday 19th of July 2013 07:28:38 AM
-- Edited by Wizardofoz on Friday 19th of July 2013 07:29:56 AM
Very true brickies. I think it's a bit unrealistic to think we can free camp for example, at the waterfront at Coolangatta, and even though this area is 'better' than Surfers Paradise, they have their problems during the night.
No, we'll always have to pay for prime real estate.
Wizardofoz, as a former retail person myself, I ask just please don't take it out on the staff. They're just doing their job.
In my opinion, the self serve checkouts don't really take away a job, because they always have to have a helper standing by, and that person would be on a regular checkout if they weren't standing there.
I've done that when I was really
. I don't know of a better way to make them listen to my message!
I started doing that at Coles in Bundaberg when I was still working and had to shop in my lunch break. After leaving my shopping behind 3 times, every time I went in they made sure that sufficient checkouts were open