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Hallooo Mailbaggers! Welcome back to another stunning edition of your favourite email medley … a real mixed bag of grey nomad gripes, groans and giggles. Let’s kick proceedings off with a gripe. Our story about a Sunshine Coast councillor’s proposal to close a beachfront Hervey Bay van park to extend a water slide attraction did not go down well. “So where are the nomads meant to go?” asks a stunned Chris “These short-sighted proposals are all about instant bucks.” Yup, and never mind about our heritage and the demise of affordable coastal holidays for future generations. Chris reckons it’s time for the powers-that-be to take a longer term view. She reckons that caravan parks are a reliable – albeit slow – income source. While tourist parks with more cabins offer quicker money, she says, the overheads are also higher thanks to costs like cleaning, laundry etc.
Spot on, Chris. “I'm sure a water theme park would cost more to run than a caravan park,” she says, definitely not warming to her theme park. “Let's hope it stays a proposal, and the vote is NO. Vote NO for closing waterfront caravan parks!” You betcha, Chris! I know where I’ll be putting my ‘X’ when the time comes. Andrea also has a word of advice to the councillor who first mooted the plan to close Hervey Bay’s Pialba park, and any others who would support its demise. “Clr Dalgleish can be quite sure that we won't now be visiting Hervey Bay at all!” she says. “Perhaps he should remember that the number of grey nomads is increasing rapidly and, although individually we may not spend a huge amount, we all need to eat and buy fuel, and even like to share a coffee in a good coffee shop, buy some clothing or pay a little to see an interesting display.” Too right, Andrea. “We're more than happy to contribute to any community that offers us simple accommodation - power, water and a clean toilet,” she says. “We certainly don't want water slides, and will instead go and support other towns and their businesses.” See you there, Andrea. On a brighter note, our story about plans to allow camping at Lake Canobolas near Orange, possibly being finally actioned, was widely welcomed. Frank and Cathy say they have heard less-than-positive reports about local van parks and so they were delighted with the news that the proposal, which was mothballed in 2006, could yet see the light of day. “It has been a very long time since our last visit to Orange,” they said. “I think the council could be on a winner with this one … it is a fantastic spot.”
“These people are disgusting!” exclaims, James. Wow! That’s Griping with a capital G. “I used to live full time in a park and homeless or low-budget travellers were often in the shower and toilet block,” said Dawa. “Park owners/managers have a right to be angry as this IS stealing … water costs money to heat and they pay enormous water levies as well.” Seems to be concensus on this one. “If you want to be a low-budget grey nomad (I am one) then either have a shower of your own. pay for the shower at a roadhouse or pay for a night in a park,” says Dawa. “In my opinion if you want to use park facilities then pay up for a night's accommodation.”
Our story about the imminent launching of hot air balloon flights offering tourists a view of Uluru stirred Jimbo into email writing action. “I wouldn’t pay $10 to get into one of them things,” he exclaims over the keyboard. “I reckon they’d find a power line to crash into out there!” Hang on. Jimbo might be serious. Eek! I haven’t delivered the giggle as advertised. Yikes! There’s always next week though. Groans, gripes and … giggles (To Be Continued). See you next week Mailbaggers. Keep those emails coming.
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Chris says the humble budget-minded grey nomad could be the cure for caravan parks’ profitability problems … not the cause! “They bring the slower, consistent money all year round, not just at peak times like the right season or school holidays,” she says. “They are the bread and butter of parks at off-peak times.”
Okay, that wasn’t a gripe, a grumble or a giggle. Let’s get back the Mailbag back on track. So, where were we? Oh, yup. Gripe time.
Okay, that’s the gripes and the grumbles, time to get on with the giggles.