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 Weekly Mailbag
Is 'Aus Vegas' Plan
Barking Mad?
Welcome back to another bumper edition of the Weekly Mailbag. There’s certainly been plenty to get you excited over the last little while and our in-box has been positively bulging.
 You may remember that earlier this month we reported on a proposal to turn Cairns into ‘Aus Vegas’ by moving in a swag of casinos and gambling joints. Apparently, this idea was mooted because tourism there has been in decline. But, if that’s the case, wondered Christine, why are they still building resorts and tourism accommodation?
“Maybe it's time Cairns diversified to attract other industries to the city,” she writes. “They have a wharf, large international airport and reasonable road transport
access. What's stopping them?”
However, Rex and Denise are mystified as to why Cairns needs any more glitz.
“We think Cairns is a beautiful place and we agree with the Mayor,” they write. “Why
would you want more gambling in Cairns ... they already have the Casino and
most pubs and clubs have poker machines already?”
 Another issue which really got a massive response from the grey nomad readership was that of Australia’s ever-growing, ever-multiplying national parks.
Denny is not alone in thinking that it is not necessarily a good thing to keep adding more acreage to our national parks.
“Tourism could be adversely affected by having more national parks because more people travel with their pets,” he writes. “They say that tourism will take up the slack due from the grazing being stopped but they had better think again.”
He stressed that the vast majority of people who travel with their dogs are responsible and have them on leads.
Klara & Fred have discovered a solution to the dilemma of wanting to visit national parks while travelling with their Staffi, Amy. “When we are near a National park we find that there is always a town nearby with a vet. They are always happy to look after your pet for a day and charge around 10-15 dollars a day. She likes it and we know she is in good hands.” Beams is very much in tune with the vast majority of you when he bemoans the seemingly relentless pressure local authorities are put under to reduce free camping options for grey nomads and other travellers.
“Our council in Clarence Valley in NSW inform us that where a new business submits a DA to open up in one of our towns, we cannot object to it on the basis of it being in competition with others, even if the new business is a big multinational and will probably kill many small ones we already have,” he said. “So maybe these businesses that are objecting to the free Rest Areas don’t want to make the effort to make their business and their prices attractive to travellers.”
He says it is well known that grey nomads will want to stay in a caravan park at least part of the time they are travelling. And he asks, do we want grey nomads pushing on a bit further to cut down on the nights they have to pay for, and then end up driving when they may be too tired to do so safely.
“Or do we want happy travellers, who want to do more travel cause they can balance the budget with a bit of a mix in sleeping arrangements?” he asks. “Happy safe travellers who will no doubt shop at these places, go to markets and, like me, go home with bags of goodies, ’cause they are different than the goodies you buy at home!”
Great point, well made Beams.
Okay, final caravan park whinge of the week goes to Dan, who was extremely disappointed to find that the local caravan park at lovely Kyneton in the central highlands of Victoria had closed its doors.
“Shut down never to open again just because it needed the shower block to be updated,” he writes. “That’s typical of narrow minded local councils and don't care about the caravan industry that is growing by 20% per year.”
He says he can only presume the locals that run expensive bed and breakfast places voted for this.
“The park had a beautiful location next to the river and botanical gardens,” he said. “So anyone interested in opening a park, this is the place to try as the town surrounding areas has a lot to offer.”
Tempting anyone?
 Okay, high time I wrapped this Mailbag up but, before I do, I am really hoping that this site can help re-unite a beautiful lost doggie with its ... I suspect ... very worried owner.
Thanks to Billie for making contact with us. This dog (pictured right) was found on the Savannah Way between Burketown and Gregory Down and may well belong to someone travelling with a caravan. If you recognise the dog or think you know who may have lost it, please email us here and we will try to facilitate a reunion.
See you all next week.
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