Good on you guys - if we don't speak up, we won't be heard - "someone else" can't do it for us - we have to do it ourselves.
Some of these towns don't realise how much money is generated by free campers - Ravenshoe is a prime example - hear it is being gazetted as a 96 hour stop - hooray - commonsense wins out!!!!
ps good pic of you both!!!!
-- Edited by jules47 on Thursday 30th of August 2012 04:24:19 PM
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jules "Love is good for the human being!!" (Ben, aged 10)
Whenever I pull into a Town that looks attractive enough to stay for a day or 4, my first stop is the Information Center. My first question is "Do you have any free camping areas and facilities". If the answer is "No", I tell them I'm moving on, that I don't stay in Towns and spend my money where facilities are not provided. Surprising the responses I receive. Most often I hear them say "We hear that quite a lot from RV travellers." These Information Centers are usually run by Town Councils, so the feedback must be passed on to Council. You think they would listen...
-- Edited by Big Gorilla on Thursday 30th of August 2012 04:29:03 PM
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Retired Airline Pilot and Electrician..
I'm not old, I've just been young a long time....Ken
Since light travels faster than sound, some people appear bright until you hear them speak.
Another CP owner demanding that the rest area at Rocky Creek War Memorial, near Atherton NTH Qld be closed.
We have just spoken to a lady who has been at the Big4 in town for ten days due to a vehicle breakdown, they were placed there by their road service so no expense to them on this part.
As for the park she said the standards are not worth the price, when I asked her how mant were staying there she said it was full every night, & this is the bugger that is complaining.
We saw a paper clipping with the storey which asked for support to retain this great park, so we walked into the tablelander's office for our two bobs worth.
This was the result.
If nothing is said,then nothing is gained.
JC.
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Be your self; there's no body better qualified ! "I came into this world with nothing , I still have most of it"
GOOD FOR YOU!!!! HOORAY FOR THE GREY NOMADS!!! If no one speaks up, nothing will happen, or worse, the wrong thing will happen. Not only does this apply here in this instance, but it applies everywhere. If you are genuinely disadvantaged, SPEAK UP!!! Hooray for the Grey Nomads!!! We can, and should be a force to be reckoned with. Not to demand, but to ask convincingly. Demanding only alienates affections, but to ask graciously, but firmly could get the desired result. If you never ask, you'll never get.
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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.
With ever more of these short sighted councils being coerced by caravan park owners it seems like it's time for the Grey Nomad fraternity to strike back.
If there is someone who has the expertise to produce a one page flyer detailing the things that should be brought to the attention of councils.
Things like a very small minority of the populace ie.CP owners dictating council policy.
What about the rest of the businesses who miss out because of short sighted policies.
Maybe it should say "I won't stop here and spend my hard earned dollars because of your policies.Other businesses now lose my dollars."
I am sure with a bit of thought we could have a decent flyer produced.
If there is someone with the expertise that could do this maybe he/she could set up a link so we could download it and print some out ourselves and give them to councils who restrict or stop free or low cost camping.
This would make the cost spread out so you could keep an individuals cost low.Print as few or as many as you feel like.
Just a thought and maybe it's a bad idea and not feasable.
Good idea about the flyer,yYuglymoron - just need to have clear idea of what we want to say - something like - "TAKE NOTICE - .............................................................................(insert council name)
As a traveller throughout this country, I stopped to have a look at the town of.......................................................,(insert town name) and thought it could be a good place to spend a day or two, having good retail facilities. the Visitors Information Centre had a wealth of interesting things to see and do in the area.
However, on enquiring if there was any free camping nearby, we were told, no - but there are ........ (number) caravan parks to choose from.
On driving through the town, we noticed several unused or neglected park areas, which could be utilised as free camps - free campers do not need toilets or showers generally, as most are self sufficient, just a place to stay for a night or two, whilst stocking up on supplies - which would be bought in the town, thereby putting some well needed funds into the local economy.
We will not be staying in this town for these reasons - no consideration given to travellers, no forsight into the future of towns, or the businesses trying to scratch a living in these harsh times.
Please note that my objections, and the fact that I have notified your council, will be posted on the internet on relevant travelling sites.
Thank you Jules47. It's that sort of cohesive approach that eventually wins he day. If some sort of common approach is taken on board, one that respects the problem rather than makes it look stupid will get the message across to councils, local business and other players in these towns will eventually see that we are not asking for the impossible but for the co-operation of all for the common good. No one wants to see a caravan park put out of business but there needs to be a better way of providing the needs without losing common sense. Thanks must go to Jim and Leonie for their stepping up to the mark and get his thing started.
Anyway that's my two Bobs worth
Brian & Cheryl
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You only live once, but if you live it right, once is enough !!!!!!
Thanks briche - it is just a rough templete - would have to be tidied up a lot - the wording etc - but maybe we do need to have something like this to leave at the info centres of towns we do not wish to patronise - And yes - kudos to Jim and Leonie for their input to the article in the paper -
Maybe we need to do a poll on a couple of flyers, so people can have their input. Looking for opinions.
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jules "Love is good for the human being!!" (Ben, aged 10)
I;ll add another 10cents worth, we first saw this story in last weeks paper pinned up on the ammenities block with a hand written note asking to call the number provided to help fight for this area, so thats when we walked into the newspaper office, hence the follow up story.
Just had another email from the female reporter that they have had a lot of calls & support, the paper has also put the story on facebook.
One thing we need to remember is that its not always the councils wish to close these areas as in Barky, they were over ruled by the courts, who are even further out of touch with real life.
If any one wishes to have their opion with the paper this is there email.
Nikki Taylor;
taylorn@tablelandnewspapers.com.au
This can be read in the insert of the photo so dont think I am bending the rules.
I have also emailed the local council in support of this area, including a huge thankyou for their services to these grounds as it also house a very large WW11 Momorial.
Council email;Tablelands Regional Council
info@trc.qld.gov.au
We did call into their offices to express our thoughts but no one available to speek to us, therefore the email.
Thats it in a nut shell, lets keep the nut in his shell.Big4
JC.
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Be your self; there's no body better qualified ! "I came into this world with nothing , I still have most of it"
Thanks for that info and email addys JC - will get to it tomorrow, running out of charge - me and the 'puter - hope all is well with you guys!! When do you start heading south? Using as many free camps as possible I hope! We are at Bollon, great spot - free hot showers 500m down the track by the creek!!
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jules "Love is good for the human being!!" (Ben, aged 10)
Hi Jim, looks like your passion to raise this topic has begun to get bigger than Ben Hur. That's got to be a good thing and who knows where it will go. While talking about various free camp spots, we pulled into Barbinda this afternoon and noticed that the new show/toilet block has been finished with a pleasant addition. They now have hot showers available. 2x$1.00 coins gives you about 4 mins of hot water and when that time runs out it just goes cold. I will pass this onto the camps book people so that they update the site. It's interesting to see a little town like Barbinda to provide this sort of facility when other much bigger towns just don't want us there. Just you are both well. We will be here until about next Wed or Thurs.
Take care
B & C
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You only live once, but if you live it right, once is enough !!!!!!
Hi Jim, looks like your passion to raise this topic has begun to get bigger than Ben Hur. That's got to be a good thing and who knows where it will go. While talking about various free camp spots, we pulled into Barbinda this afternoon and noticed that the new show/toilet block has been finished with a pleasant addition. They now have hot showers available. 2x$1.00 coins gives you about 4 mins of hot water and when that time runs out it just goes cold. I will pass this onto the camps book people so that they update the site. It's interesting to see a little town like Barbinda to provide this sort of facility when other much bigger towns just don't want us there. Just you are both well. We will be here until about next Wed or Thurs. Take care B & C
