Canning Stock Route-increase in fees

Submitted: Monday, Mar 28, 2011 at 13:47

ThreadID: 85264 Views:3015 Replies:8 FollowUps:7

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Canning Stock Route

The Canning Stock Route is a long-distance remote stretch of track through the Gibson and Great Sandy Deserts. No longer in use as a stock route this is now a vehicular track allowing access to the

Canning Stock Route

Section: Treks

The Canning Stock Route is a long-distance remote stretch of track through the Gibson and Great Sandy Deserts. No longer in use as a stock route this is now a vehicular track allowing travel along

Member - Rowdy6032 (WA)

Hi

For those that are planning a trip on the CSR there was an article in The Weekend West 26/03/11.

The permit has recently been expanded to include Wells 5 to 14.

There has been an increase in the fee from the original $50 to $100 per permit.

A sign of the times and things to come.

Full details on www.anfwdc.asn.au

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Reply By: Member - Maws (WA) - Monday, Mar 28, 2011 at 13:57

Monday, Mar 28, 2011 at 13:57

Now lets see.... I have a small business (part time)- when I have to be home saving up diesel money I draw plans for small additions to peoples homes.

Diesel is getting expensive lately and then there is those entry / transit permits- they seem to be going up all the time....what shall I do..... raise my charges... I know Ill double them.

Well in the real word doubling my charges would see me with no more diesel money.

Where do they get the right to double the fees overnight?

Steve.

AnswerID: 449463

Follow Up By: ob - Monday, Mar 28, 2011 at 18:08

Monday, Mar 28, 2011 at 18:08

Hi Steve
Like you my daughter draws up house plans for extensions or new and like you if she doubled her charges she would also find all her customers going somewhere else. Unfortunately the mob that controls access to places like the CSR know they are the only act in town.
It's called being over a barrel.

ob

FollowupID: 721857

Follow Up By: Member - Leigh (Vic) - Monday, Mar 28, 2011 at 18:58

Monday, Mar 28, 2011 at 18:58

Monopolies seem to enjoy this sort of behavior. The local council works out how much money it wants to collect then merely sets the rate in the dollar to levy rates and bingo, it has achieved it goal, it has no competitors and we pay. May be a bit of competition theory needs to be introduced to things like permits etc. Might sharpen up the poor service offerings from some of the administrators who sit on these things for ages and issue permits with no regard for the interests of customers.

FollowupID: 721860

Reply By: Wayne (NSW) - Monday, Mar 28, 2011 at 14:39

Monday, Mar 28, 2011 at 14:39

Rowdy,

Most of the travelers that I have spoken to while on the CSR don't bother obtaining a permit so increasing the fee will have a negative impact.

What has change from last year? With the $50 permit I was able to travel the full length of the CSR and visit every Well, but now it is going to cost twice as much and nothing else has changed

The other thing that really annoys me is that all the changes and closers are announced at this time of year, at the start of the touring season when most people have made there plans as well as budget. If there has to be a change make it applicable from next season.

Rowdy, I am not having a go at you. I know that you are only letting the forum know what you have found out and I thank you for that.

Wayne

AnswerID: 449466

Reply By: Motherhen - Monday, Mar 28, 2011 at 15:14

Monday, Mar 28, 2011 at 15:14

Extract: "A new expanded Permit covering the route between wells 5 to 40 has been commissioned. The section from well 40 to 51 is being finalised, but is still "in the pipeline, awaiting owner ratification" The new Permit will cost $100, but will allow drivers planning their trips to apply for special permits to visit sites which were previously listed as unavailable. When it is extended to well 51, there will be no increase in the fee.

If granted a special permit, visitors will use this new system of controlled access so that the season's visitation numbers can be managed and are sustainable. As with other areas of the outback, if conditions are unsuitable due to weather or other events including track damage or site degradation, approval to visit may be declined. It is a step forward, reflecting the owners' willingness to share their sites provided that tourists respect country and comply with the conditions set out in the new information section of the Permit."

So there is more to it than just doubling the price.

Motherhen

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AnswerID: 449468

Reply By: garri - Monday, Mar 28, 2011 at 15:48

Monday, Mar 28, 2011 at 15:48

who will pay people to police this ?

AnswerID: 449470

Reply By: Gossy - Monday, Mar 28, 2011 at 17:05

Monday, Mar 28, 2011 at 17:05

no problem paying $ when it's spent well (Tasmania with their camping spots are a great example of providing for the tourists).

Considering that everything done on the CSR is done by volunteers (fixing up wells etc) I assume this money goes into someones pocket for no effort.

Won't get anything out of my wallet.

AnswerID: 449479

Follow Up By: ob - Monday, Mar 28, 2011 at 18:18

Monday, Mar 28, 2011 at 18:18

Gossy

"I assume this money goes into someones pocket for no effort."

You are in all probability right, but I have to ask ...what's new?

ob

FollowupID: 721858

Reply By: Ray - Monday, Mar 28, 2011 at 19:30

Monday, Mar 28, 2011 at 19:30

I don't know much about the CSR but I would imagine that if it is a gazetted road no permit is necessary.

AnswerID: 449492

Reply By: Member - Tony (ACT) - Monday, Mar 28, 2011 at 21:57

Monday, Mar 28, 2011 at 21:57

What alot of BS. Another reason not to go back.

AnswerID: 449522

Reply By: The Landy - Tuesday, Mar 29, 2011 at 09:50

Tuesday, Mar 29, 2011 at 09:50

Fair dinkum...

Okay I get it that no-one likes to see fees increases, maybe the CSR was under-priced before, I don’t know and I’ll leave others to debate this.

But to keep it in some sort of perspective; if you are travelling from Sydney to the start of the CSR at Halls Creek a 5% variance in your normal fuel consumption is around $50 for the distance you will travel. How many can say they keep fuel consumption inside this sort of variance on a trip like that? By the time you take into account pricing differences for fuel, above and beyond the additional you expected to pay and you can probably triple this number...

Add in the extra carton of beer you bought because you drank an extra beer every couple of days while you were away, and all of a sudden this extra $50 is starting to look like a rounding error on your holiday budget...

And for those who don’t pay, your choice, but all you’re doing though is transferring your costs to someone else... And that cost, is $0.05 cents per kilometre when on the CSR, run the wrong tyre pressures in the sand and $0.05 cents becomes meaningless...

Folks, get a grip on things here... if $50 bucks is going to make that much difference to your trip down the CSR let me say I doubt you you can’t afford to go anyway!

And yes I did acknowledge from the outset that no-one likes fee increases!

Cheers, The Landy

AnswerID: 449553

Follow Up By: Member - Kevin S (QLD) - Tuesday, Mar 29, 2011 at 12:05

Tuesday, Mar 29, 2011 at 12:05

A good post Landy. I am amazed at the people who have enough money to buy the most expensive 4WD and van/trailer but only seem to enjoy themselves if they get to drive through the outback free of charge.

$16 per day to drive into the Kozciuszko National Park and $100 to drive the Canning Stock Route? I think the CSR wins hands down.

Kevin

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Follow Up By: Wayne (NSW) - Tuesday, Mar 29, 2011 at 14:34

Tuesday, Mar 29, 2011 at 14:34

It is not the increase of the fee, but the timing.

"The scheme has been developed to provide permit holders access to sites within the native title areas as listed in the new information booklet attached to and part of the permit. The permit covers the permit holder, their passenger(s) and their nominated vehicle. The permit is non – transferable and allows entry to visit approved sites as listed in the permit. It covers the length of the Canning Stock Route from wells 5 to 40 as from February 2011. Access from the south and north or through adjacent properties is not provided by this permit and compliance with existing arrangements for passage through these roads and properties is the responsibility of the traveller."

As from February 2011 the new fees are applied.
It is on the 4wd Association news letter March 2011.
If they want to increase fees it should be from January 2012, not a few months before the start of the touring season

Commercial operators have not as yet been hit with an increase, but it will only be a matter of time.

"The permit fee has been increased to $100 for individual travellers. Until further notice the fee for a commercial operator’s vehicle is $250. Revenue from these fees funds the administration of the permit system and protection of environmental, cultural and heritage values of the Canning Stock Route by Traditional Owners."

Wayne

FollowupID: 721927