Closure of NSW showgrounds to Camping.

Onedodger · Guru

Closure of NSW showgrounds to Camping.

Wonker · Veteran Member

Thanks for the tip off OD.......will get pen to paper !

Wonker

Ma · Guru

Consider it done!! the nerve of them obviously they aren't concerned with the tourists that bring the most money into their towns

al · Senior Member

short sighted little beaurocrats!
stuff'um all i'll go free camping instead.
I have also e-mailed my mp for what that is worth
al

-- Edited by al on Monday 29th of March 2010 03:49:19 PM

jimricho · Guru

The local authorities in Gunning (to their credit) now allow 48 hrs free camping in the park next to the public pool (see free camping section on this forum) following the closure of the campground at the local showground there.

Ma · Guru

It stands to reason then that Gunning is going to benefit from their efforts.

If you can't find a spot in that area you will go to Gunning of course and who knows, buy a pie, fill up the tank, whatever they have on offer to tempt you.

Way to go Gunning. Pity more towns didn't follow suit.

jimricho · Guru

Ma wrote:

It stands to reason then that Gunning is going to benefit from their efforts.

If you can't find a spot in that area you will go to Gunning of course and who knows, buy a pie, fill up the tank, whatever they have on offer to tempt you.

Way to go Gunning. Pity more towns didn't follow suit.

Hear Hear

No doubt that was Gunning's motivation, I've no idea what representation there was to the shire council (Lachlan Shire, I think) but to their credit they recognised the benefit to the village. Gunning is located mid-way between Goulburn and Yass, just off the Hume Highway, far enough for the traffic noise not to disturb a good night's sleep. The park is well maintained, the toilet was clean and there is a cold shower (bloody cold in winter I bet!). There's a Chinese that comes highly recommended attached to the pub (within walking distance) but unfortunately was closed for a month while the owners were visiting rellies back in their homeland. I've posted photos in the Free Camps section of the forum.

Jim

Wonker · Veteran Member

I see in the article the Caravan & Motorhome Club of Australia agreed with this move......since when did they speak for the whole of the Caravan community, they don't even have caravans in their club ?

jimricho · Guru

Wonker wrote:

I see in the article the Caravan & Motorhome Club of Australia agreed with this move......since when did they speak for the whole of the Caravan community, they don't even have caravans in their club ?

Not quite sure how to interpret the following paragraph in the story...

(quote)

CCIA chief executive Barry Baillie defended the ban, saying a working group involving his organisation, the Departments of Planning and Tourism, the Local Government and Shires Association of NSW and the Campervan and Motorhome Club of Australia had agreed on the outcome.

(end quote)

Raises the question, did the CMCA agree or were they outvoted and the agreement was a majority decision with the CMCA dissenting ???

-- Edited by jimricho on Tuesday 30th of March 2010 06:36:39 AM

goinsoon · Guru

Would someone ask these idiots, what caravan park is able to accomodate a caravan club some which have 80 or more vans turn up to a monthly rally and most between 20 to 35 vans.
Where do the clubs go now??

jimricho · Guru

Wonker wrote:

I see in the article the Caravan & Motorhome Club of Australia agreed with this move......since when did they speak for the whole of the Caravan community, they don't even have caravans in their club ?

It's a pity there's not a "peak" body genuinely representing the interest of all RV owners. As you rightly point out the Campervan* and Motorhome club doesn't want to know anything about us caravan and camper trailer owners. That's not to be too critical of that organisation that counts valuable contributors to this forum amongst its members, but by excluding the rest of the RV community they cannot legitimately be considered to represent the interests of all caravan park and free/budget camp users.

The decision to make available campground sites at showgrounds should surely rest with the individual showground trusts.

The whole issue reeks of Big Government impinging on individual freedoms and "grass roots" decision making by bowing to pressure groups with vested interests. This is typical of the modus operandi of the current NSW government.

* please note that my correction of the name of the organisation is not meant to be critical of your minor error but to emphasise the exclusion of caravanners from full membership.

-- Edited by jimricho on Tuesday 30th of March 2010 08:27:43 PM

Wombat 280 · Guru

Will this ban also effect horse floats and livestock transporters . It's not uncommon to see the owners of such rigs camping in their rig for the duration of a show .

Maybe it's one of these legislate then grant exemption , typical of this state Policy on the run yet again .

Also why was taxpayers money used to champion the cause for persons who have a commercial interest in seeing a ban imposed , this got little to bugger all air play in the media before this all took place.

I subscribe to the Caravan and Motorhome Mag and I can't recall ever seeing any pre-warning of such an inquiry taking place or a call for submissions , Just another back door deal by Labor that will probably be tied to the Green Vote preferences done the track

Onedodger · Guru

I have been advised that the CMCA did not agree to this ban and are seeking a full retraction of the statement that states their support.

brickies · Guru

Are all showgrounds in NSW crown land in Queensland a lot is owned by local council I think this report would only cover ones owned by the state government

jimricho · Guru

Onedodger wrote:

I have been advised that the CMCA did not agree to this ban and are seeking a full retraction of the statement that states their support.

I'm pleased to hear this, maybe CMCA should put a statement on their web homepage to clear the air on this. In the absence of an overall "peak" body representing all "RVers" it would be good if they took this issue up with the government authorities concerned.

Andrea · Senior Member

How sad; as fully self-contained permanent travellers we were planning to dawdle through much of NSW later this year, but we don't stay in pricey caravan parks that have to charge for all the 'bells & whistles' that don't interest us. Looks like those towns will be doing without our dollar, too, while we stick to Queensland, Victoria, SA and WA instead.

Andrea & John
(currently spending some time - and money! - in a hospitable small country town in the Great Southern, WA)

JRH · Guru

Andrea wrote:

How sad; as fully self-contained permanent travellers we were planning to dawdle through much of NSW later this year, but we don't stay in pricey caravan parks that have to charge for all the 'bells & whistles' that don't interest us. Looks like those towns will be doing without our dollar, too, while we stick to Queensland, Victoria, SA and WA instead.

Andrea & John
(currently spending some time - and money! - in a hospitable small country town in the Great Southern, WA)

G'day Andrea,

Which hospitable small country town in the Great Southern, WA are you currently staying in?

Andrea · Senior Member

JRH wrote:

Andrea & John
(currently spending some time - and money! - in a hospitable small country town in the Great Southern, WA)

G'day Andrea,

Which hospitable small country town in the Great Southern, WA are you currently staying in?

Hi, JRH -- we're in Frankland for the next week. We have to return to Albany for an appointment on Friday 9/4, but the budget suffers a lot less up here. Besides, we can also avoid the worst of the Easter crowds, and we quite like the smaller country towns -- spent three weeks in Cranbrook last month!

Cheers -
Andrea

JRH · Guru

Andrea wrote:

JRH wrote:

Andrea & John
(currently spending some time - and money! - in a hospitable small country town in the Great Southern, WA)

G'day Andrea,

Which hospitable small country town in the Great Southern, WA are you currently staying in?

Hi, JRH -- we're in Frankland for the next week. We have to return to Albany for an appointment on Friday 9/4, but the budget suffers a lot less up here. Besides, we can also avoid the worst of the Easter crowds, and we quite like the smaller country towns -- spent three weeks in Cranbrook last month!

Cheers -
Andrea

G'day Andrea,

Thanks for the quick reply, you are certainly in a beautiful part of WA.

Like yourselves we also prefer the smaller country towns and as you say the budget doesn't suffer so much.

Hope you have a great time and take back a lot of great memories of WA.

John

Wonker · Veteran Member

jimricho wrote:

Wonker wrote:

I see in the article the Caravan & Motorhome Club of Australia agreed with this move......since when did they speak for the whole of the Caravan community, they don't even have caravans in their club ?

It's a pity there's not a "peak" body genuinely representing the interest of all RV owners. As you rightly point out the Campervan* and Motorhome club doesn't want to know anything about us caravan and camper trailer owners. That's not to be too critical of that organisation that counts valuable contributors to this forum amongst its members, but by excluding the rest of the RV community they cannot legitimately be considered to represent the interests of all caravan park and free/budget camp users.

The decision to make available campground sites at showgrounds should surely rest with the individual showground trusts.

The whole issue reeks of Big Government impinging on individual freedoms and "grass roots" decision making by bowing to pressure groups with vested interests. This is typical of the modus operandi of the current NSW government.

* please note that my correction of the name of the organisation is not meant to be critical of your minor error but to emphasise the exclusion of caravanners from full membership.

Thanks for picking that up Jim, I must have been having a "seniors" moment, lol!

There is a peak body called Motouring Australia meant to represent all types of RV Travellers, and as well as CMCA, the ATCM&CC and ACC belong to it an possibly others I am not aware of. However at this point in time they don't seem to have a website and the CMCA seem to be the main mouthpiece for them, see this link from the ATCM&CC;

http://www.atcmcc.org.au/clubnews.php?newsid=motourin

The CMCA has released a statement denying they support and such move to close the showgrounds to camping as claimed in the newspaper article, see;

http://www.cmca.net.au/pages/news/articles/documents/Tweed_Response.pdf

FYI,
Wonker

Cupie · Guru

Hi .. You might like to have a look at - caravanningnews.com - for a detailed report on this issue.

jimricho · Guru

Thanks, Cupie,

It's good to see the issue is being cleared up. Obviously the original Tweed News reporter didn't do his/her homework (surprise! surprise!). It's hard to argue against the CCIA's point about the "level playing field" when it comes to meeting planning requirements but equally there's a case for low cost "no frills" campgrounds such as showgrounds in many country towns.

Jim

Cruising Granny · Guru

Most Showgrounds are owned by the local council, and managed by a separate committee.
This large tract of land stands idle between shows, with the exception of an occasional horse event. Many country towns use the oval (arena) for local sports.
Utilising the showground between events is a way for the committee to raise much needed funds to maintain their facilities.
The sites would only use a section of the grounds, which would be used by the show patrons during that time. The rest of the year it could be available to campers.
If the caravan parks are feeling threatened, they may need to lift their awareness and drop their rates. There are no shortage of nomads and families doing van travel, but everyone is baulking at the prices being charged to put the wheels on the dirt and to have a shower, use a bit of water and power.
It's getting ridiculous to pull in and plug in for $40 a night, maybe 20 hours if it's just an overnight stay.
More than $30 per night is very hard to justify.
If the customer service is there, the attitude is right, park folks wouldn't have any trouble keeping their sites occupied.
When the service is bad and the facilities aren't the best, these parks are the last to be filled.
It's all relative.
This industry certainly needs representation at local, state and national level. The Campervan and Motorhome mob do a lot of work, but don't represent or address all sectors of this industry.

RobCol · Senior Member

We have stayed at showgrounds at Narrandera NSW, and Maleney on Sunshine Coast Qld. Both were adequate and cheap for an overnight stay (some do stay longer).. Here in Mount Gambier, the local showgrounds also welcomes campers for a minimal fee. As Christine pointed out, this is a good income for the show societys. Van parks should not be threatened as I for one would only use this type of facility for an onite stay without needing to "un-hitch".

jimricho · Guru

Like RobCol I mainly stay in Caravan Parks as I'm not set up for free or cheap camping for anything more than an overnighter (other than the occasional "bush" camp) but I fully support any effort to make free/budget camping available. Park owners will develop their properties to cater for customers other than "RVers" by installing units/villas if they believe this makes good business sense, thus reducing the number sites available for us. In popular tourist destinations parks are also being sold off for redevelopment to up-market resorts.

Digressing slightly.... In a recent trip to NW NSW and then Western Victoria the standard of the parks seem to bear little relation to the price. The best (Inverell) was the least expensive and the worst (Echuca) was the most.

Cruising Granny · Guru

The operators of parks seem to have their own personal perception of what services are required by travellers in van parks, and how much they should charge for those services.
The park I'm in, you know the one Jim and Ma, is currently nothing but a bog. The grass is thick and getting higher, and underneath the mud is getting deeper.
I once asked the owners what I got for my money.
"A site!" She proudly declared. A broken concrete slab surrounded by grass sometimes.
As parks go this is fairly mediocre, nothing flash, no bells or whistles, and bugger-all customer service with any semblance of a smile.
So there you go. It's open to interpretation.
Why do I stay here? Location, location, location.
I guess that's what I'm paying for.