Comment: Free Camping - What is the real cost?

Hi Terry

Thanks for your comments, however I not entirely sure of the point you are endeavouring to make with respect to having three months of food and fuel. I’m not sure what you are travelling in, but most modern vehicles have a range that usually ensures it won’t take you three months to travel between larger centres, even in this vast continent of ours.

But reading between the lines, are you suggesting that ‘budget’ RV travellers will spend money in smaller towns where they avail themselves of free camping? I’m not sure that is always the case, especially when larger centres are close by that have larger more competitive stores, and numerous fuel outlets providing price tension. In fact, for many this type of travel is a way of life, and budget considerations are at the fore constantly, so it is hard to imagine that the savings they make on one hand through free camping is passed back to the community by paying a higher costs for goods and services.

But let me be clear on the thrust of the issue I am driving at, and that is not that free camping exists; it has a place to play in the Australian travel experience, and is one of the appeals of travelling in Australia. But my key point is that if you are going to have councils competing with private enterprise in centres where short-term accommodation already exists than there is a large risk that private investment in tourism infrastructure will decline over time and that will be to the detriment of all travellers. Government instrumentalities’ have a very poor track record on infrastructure investment, so it may well be you are creating an issue for all RV and caravaners’ in the future. And don’t lose sight of the fact that not all RV and caravan travellers avail themselves of the short-term accommodation and security that caravan parks provide.

I have no doubt that the current caravan/resort park model must, and will change over time, and there is a chance for sensible discussion on the matter from all interested parties.

With respect to the issue in Tasmania it seems to date the RV and Caravan Associations, and their members are simply writing to tell politicians and the government departments they will boycott Tasmania and this may come at a financial cost, something I’m sure they are already away of and have already deliberated over. The offset to this is a fact they have a responsibility to other stake-holders and must observe pricing neutrality guidelines and regulations. Caravan parks employ locally and use the services of local businesses’, these people live and shop in these towns also. But I suspect Tasmania is only the tip of the problem, at this rate, you and your fellow travellers may well find that in time you have boycotted so many places that you’ll run out of places to travel to (or boycott). Politicians’ need solutions to the problem that is fair and equitable to all involved; not just a bunch of letters that rant about the interests of one group, a point seemingly missed often by the RV and Caravan Association members.

Kind regards
The Landy