Another One Bites the Dust

Yes, I understand that, Alby.

Development and developers in NSW are on the nose at the moment. I'm not saying there is anything on the nose about this particular project, but within the general population there is certainly a lack of trust in the NSW system. I just wonder if anyone is effectively overseeing the cumulative effects of these changes, especially when approvals, each possibly ok in it own right, come from different local governments.

To me it seems like the death of something I love by a thousand razor cuts and there's nothing I or like-minded people can do to stop it.

Yes Frank,
There is something you could do.
Buy a suitable block of land in a popular area, get all the applicable permits and approvals and build what you want for yourself and any others who want basic facilities and see how long it takes to recoup your investment.

That's the problem with caravan parks, even Shire ones, they have to pay their way, hence the fees they have to charge the travelling caravan owning public.

Cheers

Disco.

Disco,

I think you've missed my point.

It's not the fees I'm objecting to here in the first place, it's the development, one might say over-development, of simple little parks which fit easily into their surroundings into garish mega-dollar money spinners.

Then, after the development, come the fees to pay for the monstrosity. That won't affect me because I won't be using the new "facility". But I decry the loss of simplicity, the loss of an opportunity for families to take a simple, cheap, back-to-nature seaside holiday just to give some bloke who has lots of money the chance to make more.

Cheers

So in fact you are criticising them for trying to create a successful business. You would obviously prefer them to keep things simple so that free campers can call in once a week or so to do their washing!
These parks have huge overheads now & have to make changes to remain solvent, look at your own council rates, utility bills & insurances & you will see why.

No one wants to pay big money to stay at these places but you have to be realistic about it and what it costs to run a park

In this case they are offering 130k a year for a manager which must be the going rate I assume for a suitable candidate, add to this the interest on the loan for the initial park purchase price which would be a substantial amount in a majority of places, add your council rates and other utility costs, land tax, insurance, public liability, maintenance blah blah blah BEFORE YOU EVEN LOOK AT MAKING A PROFITand it becomes apparent very quickly that they need to charge what they do.

We rarely stay at these places and don't like paying what we do for a patch of unpowered dirt to put our swag on and use their bathroom but I understand thgeir position and no one is making me stay there.

At the end of the day, market forces dictate what things cost.

And also 'at the end of the day' it is their park, their business, they put the investment and hard work into it. Now they can do whatever they want with it. If a van park in that location is so good and so popular, go start one up yourself.

Hi Pop,

I can relate to your comments.
On our trip to the Kimberley not so long ago, I had planned to stay overnight at Daly Waters caravan park and spend a couple of hours at the pub, enjoying a bit of conviviality.

We walked into the bar, only to find a distinct lack of "outback atmosphere". The bar was manned by a couple of backpackers and although I have nothing personal against these young folk, they do not conjure up my idea of outback hospitality and humor.

When I was last there, some 15 years ago, the place was abuzz with good Aussie humour in everything from the visual to the dry comments by the wisened bartender.
No more. The place has as much personality as a roadside fuel station, (which by the way are also largely staffed by European sounding backpackers). Wouldn't bother to call in again.

As there was still plenty of daylight left, we and our friends traveling in convoy with us, decided to keep driving to a better location, so Daly Waters missed out on some cash flow from us.

Maybe the Owner was on annual leave, or just maybe the owners are now foreigners themselves and places like this are fast losing their "Aussie icon" status.

Luckily for us, other places we visited on our 10,500k journey still have that Australian outback spirit, but I agree with what you are saying Pop.

Actually, our next visit to the Kimberley area will probably be a fly-in, hire a Britz, and fly out again venture. Love the area and want to go back again, but overall wear & tear on our vehicle and camper, coupled with the extended drive from Adelaide will be taken into consideration when planning a future trip.

G'day Bill,

We were in the Daly Waters pub about 2 weeks ago. First time we had actually called in as you know it's a few k's off the highway. Loved all the odds and ends on the walls and hanging from the rafters. A bunch of youngsters sitting around a table talking in their own European language. No worries. Then the tour coach driver stuck head in the door and basically ordered them all back on the bus while he pointed to his watch. The two young girls serving behind the bar while having pretty thick accents were at least easy on the eye. I felt a bit out of place.

Cheers
Pop

"sophisticated, multi-cultural Australia" ? lol - welcome to the global reality. On the one hand our media bombard us with how incredibly lucky we are to enjoy the cultural mix and on the other hand we get the complaints. Is there anywhere outside remote Asia and Africa that isn't "multicultural" and hasn't been for 40+ years or more, depending upon your definition? You can go to Doncaster, Dortmund or Dijon and you will find you will be served by somebody of migrant background. Seems we're still getting used to it.

While on the subject of foreigners in this country: I have a friend with a Swedish girl friend. He went back to Sweden with her for a short holiday and was out driving one day in a remote rural area. They stopped at a little pub and, seeing he had picked up a few words of the local language, he decided to try his hand at ordering a couple of drinks. The bar tender listened to him trying to order in his best Swedish then replied in Aussie accent English " You want a couple of beers do you mate?"

Those flamen foreigners are everywhere these days..

We also do a fair bit of bush travel and I very often find a bit of a thurst coming on every time we spot a bush pub.

Yep, and lo and behold, a very easy on the eye backpacker type European blonde serving the beverages.

And that to me is quite ok, but Heaven Forbid, why on Earth aren't they taught how to PULL A BEER before they are turned loose?

I spose it helps stop me having one too many!!
mike

Mike,

Most Bush Pubs only sell beer by the can or bottle.
No need to know how to pull a beer:-)

I have nothing against backpackers and the jobs they secure while working their way around Australia.
What I do miss though is the very unique "dry" humour from a bloke or girl that is "homegrown".
Can you imagine the Prairie, William Creek, or Mungerannie Hotels without their unique Aussie proprietor characters. And that is only in South Australia.

New Zealand is no different either. I ventured into the Puhoi pub, some 50k's north of Auckland some years ago and was greeted by some good old Kiwi humour which is very similar to ours.
After ducking under the entrance door and approaching the bar, I said to the barman, "G'day mate". He looked at me and said, "If I were you I would keep the fact that you are Australian very quite".
He then shouted to the whole bar, "HEY EVERYBODY, WE HAVE AUSTRALIANS PRESENT", then gave a big grin and asked us what we would like to drink.
We spent a couple of great convivial hours there and it's just one of those experiences you remember and treasure.

if a bars not staffed by backpackers im astonished.
im a bit of a connisoir. ill often pull in to rate the talent of the overseas lass. im rarely disappointed

or easily pleased !

LOL Mike. That is almost certainly the realism.

Would drive me nuts.
I like to be able to go away myself sometimes, while I still can, and working/living in a place like this I would not really want to holiday in a similar place.

If this guy/gal does get some time off maybe they would like to go overseas and have someone else at their beck and call.

Or maybe go free camping (;-))

Cheers
Pop

Yes I'm afraid that $130K would not be enough to entice me to that position.

I stopped going to Lakeside about 10 years ago, when they turned it into a cabin city and corralled all the camp sites in the middle. Of course, the site prices went up (coincidentally), and you still had to pay for your showers :D
It's a free market economy, so I exercise that that right (as do they) We don't need a water park (the lake's great). We don't play 'whack-f*ck !!' (Golf), so don't need a golf course.
The market they're aiming for has changed. Our needs have not.
$130k? Good luck filling the position :D

I meant to ask - have you stayed at the park at the lake entrance, Peter? Was thinking of trying it in November. Not that I use parks much these days :)

Not for 15 or so years. It is one of the Shoalhaven Council's Holliday Haven parks. I have stayed at some of them since and found them good parks.