AUGUST 21: Pelican Caravan Park owner at Winton in Queensland furious after 40 caravans allowed to park overnight in town for free while sites in her park were vacant.
(extract posted from caravanning news)
freehazzas said
07:04 PM Aug 22, 2013
Thats the best part of traveling our country. Its still a free country. Maybe she puts her price up too much in peak season.
Rip and Rosie said
07:20 PM Aug 22, 2013
Maybe the CP was charging for stuff the "free campers" didn't want.
..........or maybe the CP wasn't pet friendly
..................................or maybe it was over the top kid friendly (if you know what I mean)
or maybe it has poor reviews
copper1 said
07:52 PM Aug 22, 2013
Or maybe we have the RIGHT to choose were we camp or not , still a free country is it not so there, to Mr or Mrs Pelican Van park
aussietraveller said
09:05 PM Aug 22, 2013
I would also question the reality of 40 vans overnight In town may be somewhat of an over statement but the question the Caravan park owners should be asking is "what do I need to do to get these vans into my caravan park"
herbie said
10:03 PM Aug 22, 2013
When we were in town a few months back if I remember rightly this park is situated between the main st and the heavy haulage by pass rd so I doubt it would be a place to stay if you wanted any kind of sound sleep.
At least the free camp behind the pub in the main st is quiet as the pub buffers vehicle noise.
We stayed behind the pub last trip and on the way back through stayed out at lilly lagoon for free.
Winton is a great place to visit for a few days.
I hope this fuss over the so called 40 vans parked in the street,dosn't start some demand to remove the free camps around the area.
If 40 vans where parked in the st I wonder how they managed to park as up there in the main st it is reverse angle parking,,,j
jetj said
10:21 PM Aug 22, 2013
Hopefully the businesses in the town did well having the vans there, that may have moved to another town had they not been able to stay.
dazren said
10:24 PM Aug 22, 2013
Hmm Tough one ?? I had a look on the web ? Park seems reasonable low cost, ?? but one ''wonders'' just how many empty sites they had ?? The figure of 40 vans ??? Not sure about that fact However even if it was true, HOW MANY of those 40 would have gone to the park anyway, ?? maybe 3-5 ?? I reckon most would have just moved on to the next free area, And whatever those 40 vans would or may have spent in Winton, would never be Known, ?? As i said Tough one ??
IF that was my park, and seeing as most vans are ''self effecient'' these days, I would offer a cheap [ say $8 - $10 night ] place to park per 2adults
And if they wanted ''Power'' another $4, and if they wanted to use shower and toilet another $4, ??
Then the majority of those vans may NOT move on ?? they may even stay 2-3 days, which helps out the Park, and also would help the other businesses in the town ??
Anyway that's just my thoughts on what I would do if it was my Park
copper1 said
12:26 AM Aug 23, 2013
I agree with dazren, most of us are self sufficient I am in the throws of getting organised for Tassie in Late January and the cost of some of the places are very, very reasonable from as little as $6 a night (without power) at Strahan don't need power and our new van we have ordered, has a gas heater installed in case of a chilly night ,after all we are talking Tassie. Getting back to Winton you could stay at the pub right near arno's wall but we stayed at the matilda van park for a few days at $30 p/n that was back in April.
sandsmere said
05:18 AM Aug 23, 2013
The 40 vans is correct . They were part of a rally that was in town for a night . Camped at the back of the Tattersalls hotel . ( 1 night only ) .
Tattersalls Hotel also owns a CP .
The lady that owns the CP is a relative of the mayor , but the mayor has stated that there will not be any changes to
the free camping arrangements in Winton at present . His statement said that there were other businesses , apart from the particular
CP , to consider . ( At least the mayor seems to have some sense , and he also has a business in town ) .
Nothing for us to be too concerned about at this stage .
-- Edited by sandsmere on Friday 23rd of August 2013 05:52:10 AM
Lorries said
09:56 AM Aug 23, 2013
You can check out the Newspaper article here - there is certainly a lot more to this story than what is in Caravanning News to date. www.freechoicecamps.com.au/winton.html
-- Edited by Lorries on Friday 23rd of August 2013 10:16:34 AM
-- Edited by Gerty Dancer on Friday 23rd of August 2013 11:08:34 AM
herbie said
11:05 AM Aug 23, 2013
Strange also that the other caravan park operators are not screaming out regarding free camping .
But also sad to think that every other business in the town will pay the price of one business operator's self ignorance in not looking in her own back yard first before all this hornets nest has taken hold.
Even if the council stops free camping,do these people really think it will make us stay in the caravan park
that was the instigator.I for one would not be.
-- Edited by herbie on Friday 23rd of August 2013 11:13:29 AM
Duh said
11:10 AM Aug 23, 2013
Here are some older reports on Badgers about the Pelican park, see;
-- Edited by Duh on Friday 23rd of August 2013 11:41:49 AM
Big Gorilla said
03:20 PM Aug 23, 2013
dazren wrote:
IF that was my park, and seeing as most vans are ''self effecient'' these days, I would offer a cheap [ say $8 - $10 night ] place to park per 2adults
And if they wanted ''Power'' another $4, and if they wanted to use shower and toilet another $4, ??
Then the majority of those vans may NOT move on ?? they may even stay 2-3 days, which helps out the Park, and also would help the other businesses in the town ??
Anyway that's just my thoughts on what I would do if it was my Park
Couldn't agree more. I've often thought of buying or building a CP and doing just that, but at my age, I no longer want to tie myself down...
Duh said
05:05 PM Aug 23, 2013
herbie wrote:
AUGUST 21: Pelican Caravan Park owner at Winton in Queensland furious after 40 caravans allowed to park overnight in town for free while sites in her park were vacant.
(extract posted from caravanning news)
We stayed at the Pelican C/P last time we were there a couple of years ago. It was pretty basic and the water from the taps is undrinkable and stank and also the shower water from the same source. It was full of sulphur and when you had shower your skin stank of it. The only drinking water was your own and you certainly wouldn't want to cook in it or fill you tank up with it either. Where the tap water hit the ground there were white stains on the ground from the water.
The park itself was pretty run down and you had to climb some high iron stairs to the showers and toilets which was basically a transportable on high stilts. The only good thing is it was on the main street in town and you could walk everywhere, also it was very cheap.
I believe talking to others that the CP near the highway is the better park and at least have potable water.
herbie said
05:44 PM Aug 23, 2013
I read that this park is $26/28 per night to me for that amount of money ,one would expect a little bite more for that amount of money.
Why would anyone want to be paying that kind of money to not be able to even use a little water due to the fact of the stench.
Sounds to me another park owner spending very little on the business,but wanting others to prop it up.
When I was in Winton not so very long ago I noted that with out the visitors wondering around the street and eating meals in the pubs the town would of been empty almost.
The pubs there must be doing some thing right for the travelling public as there was not an empty seat available at meal time.
So this always makes me wonder why one business in a town is doing ok and the caravan park in the same town is empty of the same people.
It all comes down to demand and supply what we as the target group want/need and the need is in most cases not what they are willing to sell us.. As that is what staying in their parks is all about.
D and D said
05:47 PM Aug 23, 2013
It's interesting that Winton has three caravan parks and only the Pelican Fuel Stop does not have a web site or details of its fees or facilities.
sandsmere said
07:01 PM Aug 23, 2013
The Winton council CEO has stated in an email on another forum
" the council has no intentions of changing arrangements for self contained travellers . " His name is Tom Upton .
The whole thing is a beat-up . Nothing is going to change at all .
herbie said
08:47 PM Aug 23, 2013
Three cheers for a councillor who has the B...s to stand up and look at the whole of the good for a town
rather than focusing on the wealth of one business.
I also read where this person has only been in the park for 12 odd months.
Did she not do a business plan before taking this business on.
KFT said
09:14 PM Aug 23, 2013
Please correct me if I am wrong but as I understand it Australia is an open market where competition is encouraged and if you can open a business and provide a product or service that people want you will get customers.
As Australians we also have the luxury of freedom of choice. We have the right to choose whether we use one business or another or none of them.
As a business owner it would be my right to price my product or service as I saw fit. If people thought they were getting value for their money they would very likely avail themselves of my business. Others may have chosen to offer a slightly different product or service that attracts more business than mine. There are many different markets out there for similar products and services at different levels of luxury.
I can not for the life of me see where I would be entitled to compel people to use my business if
a. they did not wish to
b. someone else provided a similar product or service free or at a cheaper rate.
To me that is the essence of a free market.
So if people are not using a particular caravan park then it appears to me that that business is not offering what the travelling public wish to avail themselves of.
I posted the same link a few posts down Herbie........never mind, all good !!!
herbie said
11:55 PM Aug 23, 2013
Sorry about that Vic, was so engrossed reading all the feed back on some other forums regarding this storm in a tea cup and just never looked at your last post.
Duh said
05:01 AM Aug 24, 2013
No worries Herbie, doesn't hurt to repeat it. Easy to miss things sometimes.....
AUGUST 21:
Pelican Caravan Park owner at Winton in Queensland furious after 40 caravans allowed to park overnight in town for free while sites in her park were vacant.
(extract posted from caravanning news)
..........or maybe the CP wasn't pet friendly
..................................or maybe it was over the top kid friendly (if you know what I mean)
or maybe it has poor reviews
Or maybe we have the RIGHT to choose were we camp or not , still a free country is it not so there, to Mr or Mrs Pelican Van park
I would also question the reality of 40 vans overnight In town may be somewhat of an over statement but the question the Caravan park owners should be asking is "what do I need to do to get these vans into my caravan park"
When we were in town a few months back if I remember rightly this park is situated between the main st and the heavy haulage by pass rd so I doubt it would be a place to stay if you wanted any kind of sound sleep.
At least the free camp behind the pub in the main st is quiet as the pub buffers vehicle noise.
We stayed behind the pub last trip and on the way back through stayed out at lilly lagoon for free.
Winton is a great place to visit for a few days.
I hope this fuss over the so called 40 vans parked in the street,dosn't start some demand to remove the free camps around the area.
If 40 vans where parked in the st I wonder how they managed to park as up there in the main st it is reverse angle parking,,,j
Hopefully the businesses in the town did well having the vans there, that may have moved to another town had they not been able to stay.
Hmm Tough one ?? I had a look on the web ? Park seems reasonable low cost, ?? but one ''wonders'' just how many empty sites they had ?? The figure of 40 vans ??? Not sure about that fact
However even if it was true, HOW MANY of those 40 would have gone to the park anyway, ?? maybe 3-5 ?? I reckon most would have just moved on to the next free area, And whatever those 
40 
vans would or may have spent in Winton, would never be Known, ?? As i said Tough one ??
IF that was my park, and seeing as most vans are ''self effecient'' these days, I would offer a cheap [ say $8 - $10 night ] place to park per 2adults
And if they wanted ''Power'' another $4, and if they wanted to use shower and toilet another $4, ??
Then the majority of those vans may NOT move on ?? they may even stay 2-3 days, which helps out the Park, and also would help the other businesses in the town ??
Anyway that's just my thoughts on what I would do if it was my Park
I agree with dazren, most of us are self sufficient I am in the throws of getting organised for Tassie in Late January and the cost of some of the places are very, very reasonable from as little as $6 a night (without power) at Strahan don't need power and our new van we have ordered, has a gas heater installed in case of a chilly night ,after all we are talking Tassie. Getting back to Winton you could stay at the pub right near arno's wall but we stayed at the matilda van park for a few days at $30 p/n that was back in April.
The 40 vans is correct . They were part of a rally that was in town for a night . Camped at the back of the Tattersalls hotel . ( 1 night only ) .
Tattersalls Hotel also owns a CP .
The lady that owns the CP is a relative of the mayor , but the mayor has stated that there will not be any changes to
the free camping arrangements in Winton at present . His statement said that there were other businesses , apart from the particular
CP , to consider . ( At least the mayor seems to have some sense , and he also has a business in town ) .
Nothing for us to be too concerned about at this stage .
-- Edited by sandsmere on Friday 23rd of August 2013 05:52:10 AM
You can check out the Newspaper article here - there is certainly a lot more to this story than what is in Caravanning News to date.
www.freechoicecamps.com.au/winton.html
-- Edited by Lorries on Friday 23rd of August 2013 10:16:34 AM
I found this, but as you say, no details
http://www.caravan-parkfinder.com.au/campsites-and-caravan-parks/view/9495-pelican-fuel-stop-caravan-park
I think this looks good, anybody been there? What was the road like?
http://www.carisbrookestation.com.au/
-- Edited by Gerty Dancer on Friday 23rd of August 2013 11:08:34 AM
Strange also that the other caravan park operators are not screaming out regarding free camping .
But also sad to think that every other business in the town will pay the price of one business operator's self ignorance in not looking in her own back yard first before all this hornets nest has taken hold.
Even if the council stops free camping,do these people really think it will make us stay in the caravan park
that was the instigator.I for one would not be.
-- Edited by herbie on Friday 23rd of August 2013 11:13:29 AM
Here are some older reports on Badgers about the Pelican park, see;
http://home.vicnet.net.au/~badger04/parks_q7.htm#pcpwint
Also another news link to the story;
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-08-21/van-park-owner-pursues-legal-options-over-free/4901466
-- Edited by Duh on Friday 23rd of August 2013 11:41:49 AM
Couldn't agree more. I've often thought of buying or building a CP and doing just that, but at my age, I no longer want to tie myself down...
We stayed at the Pelican C/P last time we were there a couple of years ago. It was pretty basic and the water from the taps is undrinkable and stank and also the shower water from the same source. It was full of sulphur and when you had shower your skin stank of it. The only drinking water was your own and you certainly wouldn't want to cook in it or fill you tank up with it either. Where the tap water hit the ground there were white stains on the ground from the water.
The park itself was pretty run down and you had to climb some high iron stairs to the showers and toilets which was basically a transportable on high stilts. The only good thing is it was on the main street in town and you could walk everywhere, also it was very cheap.
I believe talking to others that the CP near the highway is the better park and at least have potable water.
I read that this park is $26/28 per night to me for that amount of money ,one would expect a little bite more for that amount of money.
Why would anyone want to be paying that kind of money to not be able to even use a little water due to the fact of the stench.
Sounds to me another park owner spending very little on the business,but wanting others to prop it up.
When I was in Winton not so very long ago I noted that with out the visitors wondering around the street and eating meals in the pubs the town would of been empty almost.
The pubs there must be doing some thing right for the travelling public as there was not an empty seat available at meal time.
So this always makes me wonder why one business in a town is doing ok and the caravan park in the same town is empty of the same people.
It all comes down to demand and supply what we as the target group want/need and the need is in most cases not what they are willing to sell us.. As that is what staying in their parks is all about.
The Winton council CEO has stated in an email on another forum
" the council has no intentions of changing arrangements for self contained travellers . " His name is Tom Upton .
The whole thing is a beat-up . Nothing is going to change at all .
Three cheers for a councillor who has the B...s to stand up and look at the whole of the good for a town
rather than focusing on the wealth of one business.
I also read where this person has only been in the park for 12 odd months.
Did she not do a business plan before taking this business on.
As Australians we also have the luxury of freedom of choice. We have the right to choose whether we use one business or another or none of them.
As a business owner it would be my right to price my product or service as I saw fit. If people thought they were getting value for their money they would very likely avail themselves of my business. Others may have chosen to offer a slightly different product or service that attracts more business than mine. There are many different markets out there for similar products and services at different levels of luxury.
I can not for the life of me see where I would be entitled to compel people to use my business if
a. they did not wish to
b. someone else provided a similar product or service free or at a cheaper rate.
To me that is the essence of a free market.
So if people are not using a particular caravan park then it appears to me that that business is not offering what the travelling public wish to avail themselves of.
frank
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-08-21/van-park-owner-pursues-legal-options-over-free/4901466?§ion=news
I posted the same link a few posts down Herbie........never mind, all good !!!
Sorry about that Vic, was so engrossed reading all the feed back on some other forums regarding this storm in a tea cup and just never looked at your last post.
No worries Herbie, doesn't hurt to repeat it. Easy to miss things sometimes.....