Gday...

I listened to an interview this afternoon on ABC Local QLD radio with Jim (? - I missed his surname) QLD President (I think) of the CMCA who are having their Rally at Boonah at the moment. I think some of our members are attending.

The gist of the interview was to convey the 'outcomes' from the CMCA members at the rally who are very concerned that, increasingly, there are fewer and fewer camping spaces available at van parks in or near mining areas. The CMCA members have decided that someone (good old someone) needs to convince "Government" that something needs to be done. Local councils were also raised as not being proactive, generally, in providing roadside parking places for 'self-contained' vehicles - particularly as there are fewer spaces in van parks - due to cabins/dongas replacing 'sites' .... and those van parks that do have sites are too small for today's motorhomes/caravans. The prime driving argument for 'rest areas' was that Grey Nomad travellers spend so much money in areas and they should be provided with rest areas "for health and safety" as well as the economic virtues they bring.

There were a number of callers who also added to the debate - and also raised the condition of roads generally in QLD. I would like to think these callers were prompted by the issue being on the radio ... and not CMCA members 'prompted' to call in to bolster the arguement. A couple of these also were annoyed and frustrated because of the delays caused by the amount of road works in progress. One of these callers said that he, and those he talks with, will not travel the Bruce Hwy and stay inland because of the frustrations of roadworks and the delays. He said this was depriving the coastal towns of potential income. What ever happened to "drive to the conditions" ?? Especially, as for years, the QLD 'government' has been barrelled from all sides because of the lack of attention, funding, improvement and restoration to the Bruce Goat track.

Apparently, one of the things that prompted "Jim of CMCA" to approach media was they had a meeting with "first-year CMCA members/travellers" and there were 294 of them at Boonah - apparently there were in excess of 1,200 motorhomes there. Interestingly, Jim also stated that CMCA is growing by 800 new members a month and therefore it adds further weight to the need to cater for Grey Nomads - particularly those in self-contained motorhomes (and caravans). I guess CMCA membership must now be HUGE.

At the end of the interview - and the callers - I felt like this issue was just sort of whinging. We all travel as 'grey nomads' because we CHOOSE to live this lifestyle - either for the winter months or, as some of us, full-time. I wonder how much of this country would have been opened up, settled, developed and made productive if we all just said that we wouldn't go there unless 'government' provided us with first-class amenities everywhere. I found it very difficult to see these people had any 'pioneer spirit'.

I would be interested in the opinion of any GN members who attended the CMCA rally and obviously the opinion of any member of our forum.

Cheers - John