Referring to the different atitudes of some Councils to attracting the patronage of Grey Nomads I would like to point out the different view held in the USA.
I seem to recall the figure of 86 thousand sites available in and around Pheonix Arizona to attract the travelling public.Mainly for the winter period.
I have been told that some parks offer great incentives like pay two weeks get the third free and the facilities are excellent.
All done to attract people who do exactly what they do in Australia except in reverse.Ours head north for wintering they head south to the warmer climes.
There will be cheaper sites and more expensive sites to cater for different people.
Logically if at full capacity the influx of money from 86 thousand people for a few months would mean millions brought into the local economy.
Seems to me to be a no brainer. Attract the travelling public and reap the rewards instead of as here kowtowing to a very vocal CP owner minority who shout and scream about competition.
I do know that I personally don't particularly like Caravan Parks who rip you off with expensive sites and substandard amenities.(Not all of course)
I prefer to freecamp or visit showgrounds who offer lowcost alternatives.
Well thats my gripe about being ripped off and the atitude of some councils here.
I do think within the next five or ten years the explosion in people deciding to become full time Grey Nomads and travel this great country might,just might change the atitude of some CP owners. Councils who should support all local business not just some vocal CP owners who want it all for themselves..
We are currently staying in an area owed but a roadside veggie business. A couple of months ago he decided to make a vacant paddock next to his shop available for travelers to camp at. He for the first day it costs nothing and has free water available. There is no power available but for most thats not an issue if you can provide your own. After that if you buy your veggies from him you can stay as long as you like. His shop is called the Humpy and it's on the Mareeba to Athenton road at the town Tolga, Queensland.
For us it's a good example of someone looking at how they can support the traveller and his business at the same time.
I thought it was a good point to make to this post. I will copy this to the "places to stay" for those who follow that forum.
It just adds to the comments that people who provide sites will be supported. We heard about this site by a travelers at "The Junction" on the way to Norman River. There are just three of us here at the moment but it with grow once the word gets around after all that's how it works.
Regards
Brian & Cheryl.
-- Edited by briche on Sunday 19th of August 2012 08:03:19 PM
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I am not on the road yet, and read with interest the wise words of the people who are.
I understand from what I have read that CP conditions and charges vary significantly, but in general the charges appear to be rising, to take advantage of the increasing numbers of people on the road.
While for some of the customers (the holiday trade) they are competing with hotels, motels, and resorts, this is not generally the case with the Grey Nomads, where the cost applies every night, and I guess others will be like us, and their increased costs now just mean we can not afford to be in CPs every night, even if we wanted to be.
The question we need to ask ourselves is what are we going to do about it?
Yes we can comment amongst ourselves, and benefit from the experience of others in the group, but that does not deliver the message to the people who matter, the ones who make decisions on behalf of their communities.
I believe it would be in our own interests t be more proactive, to maintain some sort of public register comparing the attitude, welcome, and approach to free camping, and or low cost camping of the municipalities across our great land. We could even go so far as to publicise this(using current affair shows "the poor victimised Grey Nomads"), or even send specific councils a report card telling them when their "status" has been upgraded or downgraded, even better send it the Chamber of Comerce, and or the local paper.
Yes folks, I am trying to be provocative, I want to promote positive debate, that may result in some action before it is too late
We also need to remember the CP owners/managers have a commercial interest, they have typically made significant investments, and they are trying to maximise their return. We do not want to drive them out of business, we just want to achieve a fair balance.
I agree Yuglamron, it is a no brainer but SOME CV Park owners don't apear to have a brain so we are in deep do do, for now anyway. local Councils/Shires, well, don't get me started is all I'll say there.
At the moment as I am just starting out as a solo I like to use CV Parks but they are very expensive in deed. I am still setting up my Avan for Free/Low Cost alternatives.
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Some councils consider the local caravan park a nuisance. Private owners see it as a cash cow. Sit around all day and the money just falls into the till. Eventually the facilities become degraded, and it starts to look like one of the "trailer trash" parks which evolved in the 70's and 80's. Most have since been cleaned up and redeveloped, or restored as a caravan park. Some communities go out of their way to be "RV Friendly", while others just hold out their hand. Then there are the family parks with facilities for children and charge accordingly. If there's a need, they will provide. It's hard work to manage a viable caravan park in good order and condition. The park I'm in charges $28 per night, but long-term I pay for 6 out of 7 nights. Some parks give pensioner/senior discount, or discount for one out of fee for 2. The more information we share, the better informed we'll all be. Keep your expectations reasonable.
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20ft Roma caravan - Mercedes Benz Sprinter - SA-based at the moment. Transport has no borders.
Management makes the decisions, but is not affected by the decisions it makes.
Caravan parks that are owned by local councils are also jacking up their rates as well and a fair few are actually leasing the parks to private operators and just collecting the cash, I often wonder just how many counsellors actually care about their local community and what they can do to build it, Local Government is more a stepping stone up the political party ladder.
Grey nomads could also express their dissatisfaction to the caravan park chains ie Big 4 , Top Tourist etc if enough of us actually take the time to write or email we may see some change.
Having just spent several months in northern Queensland in Caravan Parks as the boss does not like free camping the prices asked are ridiculous with the average being around $35.00 per night for the use of a small amount of space a limited amount of water and electricity we have our own amenaties, a lot of the parks were down on numbers this year according to others in the parks. I for one am prepared to and have regularly complained abour the big cash grab.
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That vege shop owner has hit on a winner. Good on him,I for one would certainly stop there. Imagine lovely fresh vege every day. We camped at Wyandra on the way to Charleville. The small public school were growing vegetables to sell, you choose what you wanted straight from their garden. Yummy. Great innovation
Good thread, and I will subscribe to it with interest. The comments so far, from some of the most respected members of this forum, convey my feelings on this subject perfectly.
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Good thread, and I will subscribe to it with interest. The comments so far, from some of the most respected members of this forum, convey my feelings on this subject perfectly.
