Camping Fees abolished in VIC

What great news, common sense has prevailed

It is interesting that the system which caused so much angst and was not user friendly, was only going to raise $600,000 after they cut $88 million from the Parks budget.

The $600K wouldn't have done much to fix the alleged maintenance backlog.

Thanks to Four Wheel Drive Vic and everyone else involved.

Happy Easter

Neil.

A refreshing change of attitude, especially the acknowledgment that access to nature and "the great outdoors" is desirable and should not be hindered by overly bureaucratic fee structures. And nice timing too, pre-Easter. Lets hope that Queensland sees the light soon.

Cheers,

Val

I'm worried , common sense doesn't usually come from governments.
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Its ok now , I'm stuck in traffic across the top of Melbourne , pity we don't have an east west link , balance has returned.

My god!!! Hit me with a dead fish. Good idea.

Thanks for posting Chris. It is quite incredible and good to know that people power can sometimes prevail. Gives us confidence to keep complaining loudly when the Government stuff up.

Good Evening and Happy Easter Chris

That is great news, but try telling that to our stupid South Australian Government, that is now implementing online bookings for our National Parks.

Cheers


Stephen

If government does something sensible, be afraid, very afraid.

Honky

This is great news to those that think free camping is the right of every Australian, well be careful what you wish for because there are just as many people out there that whinge, bitch, moan and complain when they turn up to a camp ground and find bleep everywhere.

That's right now they don't collect a fee, they don't have to give a bleep about the place either.

The same thing happened in Kakadu when Litttle Johnny Howard made a decision to vote grab in the 03/04 election and remove park entry fees, well guess what he also took a great chunk out of the Kakadu budget and the place went down hill big time, the infrastructure was neglected etc.

Now with the new fee structure being put in place next year, we can now put money back into the park and bring it back to life.

Trust me taking fees away from these places is not a win it is a big lose.

As for the camp ground booking idea, I can't comment as it is something I haven't dealt with.

To me this is a lose lose situation.

Before you all get too excited over this great move by the new government, remember it is only on a number of campgrounds with basic services, such as pit toilets only or no toilets at all that the fees are being rescinded at this stage. Good news also that fees will be reviewed in other parks campgrounds.

Environment Minister Lisa Neville said Parks Victoria was reviewing other charges, to see whether the balance was right between sustainable funding and affordable holidays for families.

Chris, we found parks campground fees in New South Wales the dearest, particularly as they have daily entry fees as well. Queensland parks are mostly entry fee free and charge the very modest fee of $4.45 per person, or did when I last checked and updated.

Vic should return to a mixed revenue model as used by some other states, both park entry and camping fees. Park entry for the two popular NPs for which it was charged was scrapped several years ago. The tech for remote or prior payment is good enough that you don't need someone at entry boxes costing almost as much as the takings.

The massive staff cuts to Parks in Vic and Qld must also be reversed. There is more not less pressure on these priceless resources to be managed these days. Eg. more use of Fraser Island yet the staff is down to 11 from 60.

Good news for some I guess.

I was one of the half dozen or so that paid big money in February, for a few days camping at Johanna Beach Campground in the Great Otway National Park.
The cost was over $100 for a four night stay and yet the Campground was full of freeloaders who not only helped themselves to the limited facilities, but in some cases trashed and abused the place as well.
Kind of spoilt our stay somewhat.
Lack of policing by relevant authorities meant that those of us who paid for a site online prior to arriving, found that some other non-paying bugger was set up in that reserved site and didn't give a toss about others rights.
Without a Ranger or Police in tow one had little choice but to find somewhere else.

Interestingly for a National Park, dogs were allowed in some sites and that is why we chose the campsite and paid for the privilege of camping there.

It may be very well that folk think it is a good idea to have free camping in National Parks, but someone has to pay for any comfort facilities in place and the wages for staff to attempt to keep these facilities clean.

The intent was for those folk who used the facilities in National Parks such as this was to contribute towards the upkeep (as they should) but with this change, it will revert back to everybody contributing, whether they camp in National Parks, or not.

So interstate visitors like me, will be able to camp for free now, as we don't contribute to the Victorian economy by way of taxes:-)

I see that there are some who are not jumping for joy, so maybe a bit more explanation. Not all fees have beeen abolished, only in the more remote places with few if any facilities. The MOST IMPORTANT part of this announcement is the abolishing of the online booking system, it simply does not work in the remoter places. If any Government wishes to put in an online booking system then they must also provide the rangers and a penality system to police it. As Sandman pointed out he did the right thing but was surrounded by others who did not. You simply cannot make rules if you cannot/will not enforce them.
With this announcement the estimated cost to revenue is $600,000. The cost of maintaining a system (red tape) to collect this money is more than likely of a similar amount, so if there is any gain from these fees it would be but a drop in the ocean and just not worth the effort.
No sensible person would agrue that we should not make some payment for the facilities that we use. However it must be cost effective where a substantial amount of the funds collected is actually used to provide the facilities being provided.
Parks Victoria have a slogan “Healthy Parks, Healthy People” There are social and health benefits for people, particularly young families, using our National Parks and these should be encouraged. I am retired and can afford camp fees, but many young families can not.
Next is the tourism aspect. By encouraging use of our National Parks we generate tourism within our own country and the subsequent benefit to local businesses. Governments spend millions to promote tourism, maybe a little less on glossy ads and a bit more on the facilities to attract the tourists.
In Victoria we have very good relationships between the land users (read Clubs) and the land managers which is envied by by most, if not all other States. It is this relationship that has changed this policy. Whether you are a FWD driver, horse rider, motor bike rider, fisherman, bush walker, shooter, or what ever you wish to do in our National Parks I urge you to join an appropriate Club and engage with the land managers to assist them in looking after our public assets for our mutual benefit. This is working in Victoria and I commend to all.
The provision of National Parks is a function of Government in a similar way to schools, hospitals, roads, etc. There is a significant cost to Government (taxpayer) of providing National Parks whether there is camping or not. Camping fees should only attempt to cover the costs of providing camping facilities and not the whole cost of our National Parks.
South Aust have had a Desert Parks Pass for many years now. It currently costs $150 (less for a renewal). I have never heard anyone complain about the cost. All I have ever heard is how easy and simple the system is. There are other Parks Passes which are similar to this and I would suggest that this model has proven to be successful, and is the way to go.
My last suggestion would be to install more solar powered, motion activated cameras to record the comings and goings to catch those doing the wrong thing, be it vandalism, hooning, illegal camp fires, non payment of a Parks Pass etc. Automatic fines in the mail much the same as our tollways. Big brother maybe, but not a concern to those doing the right thing.

My objection to the introduction and increase of camping fees was that it was being put solely on the campers to pay for the infrastructure through camping fees, yet day visitors who would use them to they degree thus being subsidised by the campers. That aspect I objected to.

Perhaps they have found that most of the would be campers chose not to pay the extreme price, and were coming as day visitors free. Didn't the department that dreamed up the high fees see that coming?

Gday,
I just wonder how well they thought it through?
The money has to come from somewhere..........if the users don't pay someone else will be, or the services wont be provided.
I don't particularly like paying for services I don't use or need, and think a better system where you pay for a key to the facilities you use would be a fairer way to go maybe, but to drop the fees altogether will result in a drop of services, another tax somewhere else, or people who don't use the parks paying for them anyway?

Time will tell I suppose.....

Cheers