Another caravan park owner has lashed out at grey nomads and others who are opting to free camp or budget camp rather than pay full fees for overnight facilities … and he says the trend is damaging his business.
David Petersen, who owns the Bordertown Caravan Park in the small South Australian town of Bordertown near the Victorian border, has slammed free camping sites as a waste of ratepayers’ money.
Bordertown has become a hot spot for travellers as they are legally allowed to camp at several nearby sites including the Mundulla Showgrounds, Bordertown Recreation Lake, Poocher Swamp Rest Area and the Brimbago Rest Area.
The Border Chronicle newspaper reports that, in some of these locations, there are toilets, barbecues and rubbish bins available for visitors to use.
“The council provided a free camping area right near the caravan park, it’s pretty much my direct competition,” said Mr Petersen. “What if they opened a place that provides free coffee right near one of the local cafes?”
And he also slammed campers for leaving a mess at the various sites.
“The issue is all the rubbish these people leave,” said Mr Petersen. “They leave heaps of rubbish by the lake and we pay for it to be cleaned up through our council rates.”
However, the Tatiara District Council hit back at any suggestions there had been an increase in the amount of dumped rubbish at the recreation lake.
“There seems to be an increase in waste in the town overall, but not in specific spots,” council CEO, Anne Champness, told the Border Chronicle. “We can’t say there’s been a massive increase in rubbish being dumped at the recreation lake.”
And she said that, while she couldn’t comment on the specifics of how free cmapin may have affected Mr Petersen’s business, self-contained RV owners were not generally looking to stay in caravan parks in the first place.
“There is a fair bit of research that people who drive RVs will not go to caravan parks because that’s not what they want,” she said. “They have their power and toilets so they aren’t looking to pull into a powered caravan park site … they are a different target group.”
When we use a free camp near or in these smaller towns we make sure we support a variety of businesses there.
Yes. Me too. I support communities with local free camping sites.
Yes we always spend money in the area we free camp in be it food or fuel!
Agree support for local business is a must.
Every dollar I spend on accommodation is a dollar I can’t spend in other businesses…if my money is going to go on accommodation then no point going so I go where I can free camp
We come from the UK every year and live In our camper we would not be able to do so if we stopped in caravan parks. We take nothing from this country only contribute to local communities as we travel. We always leave the place as we found it {better most times}. there are many small towns we stop at because they offer free camping. Often we refuel or buy groceries. We all contribute to communities but maybe not to the coffers of the caravan park owners, much to there disgust.
Bordertown c/p would be one noisiest parks in SA right under an over pass on highway one. B doubles all night. I wouldn’t stay thete either if could find somewhere quiet. Chances are people bypass park and move next town any way. Many reasons not stay c/park!
The Free camp at the Bordertown lake is right next to the highway too on the other side hahaha
Maybe they should camp in his park and leave the rubbish there then it not costing the ratepayets. How many cabins does he have taking money from motels. People that free camp wont go thete anyway
Have stayed at the free camping sites in Bordertown, on the aged pension & cannot afford to pay the outlandish prices parks are charging 2day, we spend our money between as many businesses as possible in the towns that we patronise!
The cost of some parks are ridiculous how the difference between unpowered and powered site is on average about $10.0 per night $70.0 per week more than I pay for my large 6 bedroom house total power.
How can this not be a rip off? If m.ore parks had aeria where self contained could park at a low rate and not be packed in like sardines they would be supported. Us oldies don’t need jumping castles playground s or the like so you caravan parks stop winging and provide what we want and you will be supported
I find it annoying that when staying in caravan parks I am forced to stay at a powered site, simply because we have a caravan, the non powered sites are only for tents.
Spot on well said. If park’s continue to build waterslides and jumping castle etc etc they will get only school holiday trade campers with kids. They will.miss out on Nomads shame.
Well said, recently we have come across Kui Parks which are no frills parks, they are set up more for the nomads as there are no playgrounds, there is a pool if was there when the park was bought but they will not put them in if not already there, the few we have stayed at had clean well maintained amenities and lovely grounds and everything that we have wanted.
Here here. I agree parks are too expensive… To park on a but of grass. Usually dirt. Toilet blocks can be horrible. My van is clean. We always dispose of our rubbish properly.. We run all solar so no need for van park power. We are very economical with water.2 x10 litre buckets a day. And we spend money, in small towns .Supporting local businesses. Actually prefer out of town camp sites. Cheers
Eric really is correct the caravan parks have become to expensive, if this is due to rates and taxes council need to be told via business associations. Also cabins are now more expensive than a lot of motels
A powered site there is only about $30 a night, bit more at peak times. Compare that to others around the country
Yes……Bordertown is far too expensive to stay….asvis Eucla
Those that want to will stay at caravan parks. Maybe they should consider the rates they charge for a non-powered site in some cases they are only a few dollars cheaper than a powered site….so my suggestion is look in your own backyard first!
Perhaps the motel owners should protest about the cabins at the caravan park undercutting their business?
After doing the half lap and staying at a lot of WA parks, the standard was absolutely appalling in not all but a lot of. . No money spent on dirty run down amenities in many. Why would you want to pay to stay there ? And big $$ at some.
If I am paying I expect it to at least be clean and safe which a lot are not.
Mr Petersen, you had better remove all your cabins from your CVP then you wont be taking business away from the motels around the areas.
Same thing!
18ft van,over Jan/Feb ran air con up to 12/14hrs a day,elec cost,,,, $5.35a day,water acc for 3 mths $68.00,staying on a mates block,so come caravan parks explain $20/$35 a night or $10/$15 difference in powered and unpowered,bottom line if you were not making a min of 30% you wouldn’t be in business.
If caravan parks weren’t that expensive,people may stay,most of the caravans now days are self sufficient,and only need a place to stop,how about caravan parks,charging ten dollars for that
There are two types of campers/caravanners etc. : those who will ALWAYS stay in Caravan Parks and will pay whatever the fee, they choose not to freecamp. Then there are those who prefer free camps if not always then the majority of the time and only use a CP if absolutely necessary. And it’s my belief that either lot often spend plenty of $$ in the local town to support local business. The free campers may not pay $ to a caravan park but I’d put money on the fact that they choose to support shops in the town – from the Op shop, to the pub, petrol station, supermarket, newsagent etc etc. The CP owner needs to understand that his ‘demographic’ will come to his park, and maybe if numbers have dropped it’s due to his attitude or the state of his park? (just my thoughts, I havent been there)
Re rubbish: I feel it’s the local bogans that maybe leave rubbish not the campers & backpackers. We always leave the site cleaner. Worst mess we have seen was at Genoa Vic where the locals fish; not at the free camp.
Its not rocket science if there is a free camp and we use it we also spend lot’s of money buying supplies like food petrol diesel and lots of other good wake up and look around at how much money you are getting into your village.
If these caravan park owners would lower their rates then maybe more people would utilize them
Good on the councils that welcome free camps in or near towns
The grey nomads spend money in these places
Free camps are great
When we travelled last year most van parks were between $30 & $50 a night for a couple. And they were unpowered! Cabins were $100 to $175 a night, some without an ensuite! Work that out to a weekly rate and through in several loads of washing at $4 a load and we could rent a house and pay electricity cheaper than that. Or have an overseas trip instead of staying in a cabin. We aren’t interested in swimming pools and kids amusements and activities, just a hot shower and clean facilities. I’m aware caravan parks pay rates, electricity, wages, etc but most of them would not see us for anything longer than a couple of nights because they are too expensive.
Bordertown Caravan Park powered site is $30 a night for 2 people. I understand that nomads are on the road for months at a time and the cost of a site plus fuel is too inhibiting for many. But to say it’s a rip off is unwarranted. I guess no one here has ever owned a caravan park business??? I’m not retired yet but our van is set up for free camping 24/7 but we’ll still use c/van parks most of the time if we have to leave our van, it’s more secure. There’s too many dogs out there stealing vans lately and in broad daylight.
I often shop in Bordertown & stay the night at the lake or Mundulla, will keep an eye out for all this rubbish & pick it up if I see it.
I find being called these people as grey nomads have some sort of disease or all low life’s shows the mentality of this person , as a tax payer for over forty years and I have now doubt that I am not the only one having been through Mundulla and shopped as others have and spent our money and camped as economically as possible and not be ripped off by lowlife exploiters who put their fees up at various times ,I for one WILLNOT BE a passing that way again sorry shop owners of Mundulla
We stay in free or low cost camp sites as often as possible and spend our money in the towns that support our lifestyle. Van parks are only 1 type of business, if free camps close, then so will many other small businesses.
Yes we stay at the lake Bordertown in December we didn’t leave a mess or did 5 other vans that night.
I also have stayed at Mundulla of wish I love this beautiful spot of which 5 of us RV friends put money in the tin man, rubbish in the bin, walked the street admiring that lovely town, spent lots of money in the shop and wanted to go to the hotel for tea but it was closed that day.
You always get people that only go to Caravan parks but nomands on a tight budget can’t afford it every night. So to the Bordertown Caravan park you didnt get any money from us but your beautiful foodland store did as we did are Xmas shop there on way to Grampians.
This rant from the park owner is based on a false premise that if there were no free camps people would stay at caravan parks and pay the outragrous prices they charge. Free campers like myself will simply find another free camp! Some enlightened councils have woken up to the fact that caravan parks are not the only business in town and they are correctly catering for a class of campers who do not want to patronise caravan parks.
We stayed overnight at the Bordertown Recreation Lake in March 2017. Lovely spot. Enjoyed walking around the lake and meeting some locals who regularly walk there too. Didn’t see or leave any rubbish. Spent money in town at the cafes. Would stay there again!!
I realise this appears to be money the caravan Park is missing out on. However as there is a free camp I may stop there and have a look around and as a result spend money in the town. Without it I would only stop if I was getting fuel. I can’t stand being lined up in a caravan park with the next vans window looking under my awning.
We stayed at the Mundulla showground a couple of years ago. from memory it was $15 powered for the night.
It is an excellent camp.
As for the greedy caravan park owners they can get s*****d, if they reduced their prices they just might fill their sites.
Freedom camping is just that. People who use freedom camping sites still have to buy food, drinks, petrol etc and support local businesses. There are many who desire what caravan parks offer and many who do not. Either way people should have a choice. If choice is not offered they simply drive on.
Amazes me that Caravn Parks are always complaining about Free camps taking their business. But, they never stop to think about all the cabins they have put in are taking the business of a lot of the local motels.
Why would we want to stay at a van park when we don’t need the power, shower toilet etc…
What more waste in the town means more people not that they are using one facility as opposed to another. We allow free campers on our driveway. Some come in for a meal and a drink others no. Don’t bag them cater for them and make some money.
We have stayed at the Bordertown Caravan Park before. The park is basic, old facilities, reasonably clean, but over priced for what it is. If parks charged a more realistic fee, more would stay in parks. Whether you arrive at a park at 11am or 5pm, you have to be out by 10am the next day, and still charged the same amount. We stay in parks when there is nowhere else to stay or the need arises. But all caravan parks need to move forward and accommodate to the travelling population. It is what the call “the price of progress”
Have stayed at the lake recently, was a lovely spot, no rubbish lying around. A great FREE camp that I am sure is respected and looked after by most. Well done to Bordertown.
Caravan parks don’t have the right to dictate to tourists. Fair dinkum… it is a free country mate. They can actually choose themselves where they want to camp. Mind your own business and it may then be more inviting.
Caravan parks continue to increase their fees driving away any customets that may want to stay but are unable to afford to.
Congratulations to the councils that provide free camps to caravaners as we spend the caravan parks fees in other businesses in that town.Iam sick & tied of hearing the woes of caravan parks.
Should they ban driver revives as well, free coffee, WHAT? If I want batista coffee I will pay for it, if I want instant then I’ll have it, if I want a taxi I will pay for it if I want to drive myself I will. Small minded self opsessed caravan park owners must think we owe them something.
I dont think i should have to pay for thing i dont need or wont to use lik jumping pillows and play ground.maybe he should have more budget accommodation for those who just need a place to sleep
Exatley…thats the reason we travel in our vans to see wide open spaces , and spend our money in these tiwns , not high park prices when you have open areas to enjoy…thats why we love australia
We dont need parks everytime we want to stop overnight & stretch our legs & sight see.
It is quite simple. If all people travelling throughout Australia were only allowed to stay in caravan parks. Many would never travel. We try to travel where there are no C parks. We like space.
So far as rubbish is concerned, many times it is caused by locals anyway.
Hi. I am not a Rv owner I would love to be a grey nomad however health issue stopsme. What would I want in a Caravan Park. JUMPING CASTLE. SAND PIT. FRESHLY MOWED LAWNS. COMMON. I am Grey and want to relax without piering looking at my next doors neighbors goingss on.A view of the Dunnies No thanks.an Pay for the privilege? ?
Maybe if they stop the high costs for the sites they might get more g-nads staying, after all these parks are only onselling electricity at inflated costs, g-nads will support towns but not hungry park owners
Maybe caravan parks charge too much. I am alone in my van but still have to pay same fees as couples. I dont use the amenities only laundry, as have it all on board. If cp was cheaper ppl would probably use them more, some are outrageous.
A lot of times the bins arnt monitored by the council and are over flowing so maybe the should be emptied more often. We have a place in Whyalla that charges$10 a night that has been stopped by council because of the caravan park winging these people don’t stop in town no more.do the maths
Quick research shows Bordertown has a Motel and, guess what, David’s Caravan Park has cabins – need I say more
The main problem is the rediculous caravan park fees just to stay overnight, when you are travelling you do not need nor want to pay anywhere from 38 to 60 dollars a night for a patch of dirt to park on.
The poor old pensioners with their multi thousand dollar rigs. Almost brings a tear to my eye. I have always paid my way in life. That’s how it works.
Norm, get over yourself, whilst I am not a pensioner I am certain that if you take the time to speak with these people they are normally hard working auzzies. They have finally made it through to retirement and have either exhausted some of their hard worked for savings to invest in a rig that is comfortable for them. This is how they will spend their holiday in retirement for the rest of their lives, unlike the yuppy breed, which your sour comments tends to make me think you are, taking overseas holidays yearly then complaining that they can’t buy a house. You have a lovely day and I hope you get over your SOL.
Yes norm, multi $$rigs!
We worked for our rigs regardless if its hundreds dollars or thousands…
Anyonw with big flash rigs , good on yous..enjoy your luxury and enjoy free camping..
Can understand why he is concerned it is his livelihood. Not everyone likes to free camp and it would be a shame to lose the safety of the caravan park in Bordertown. We stayed there recently and he was very accommodating. Regarding the cabins the park is offering a cheaper option than the motels.
Barry how relevant is your comment regarding the park is offering cheap accommodation with their cabins, hello what do you think the free camps are offering????
What do we get when you increase prices for public/ school holidays, this is a double edged sword so look at your practices first
I think people who are free camping are self contained and probably on there way through, so a Caravan Park for possibly 18 hours max is unnecessary for people who have there own power and toilet facilities. If the free camp wasn’t in Bordertown itself they would stay a few km down the road in a rest area. At least having the free camp in town, people might go to the pub for a meal or spend $$$ in the town, thus supporting the local community. Having said that Mr Peterson’s rates are very reasonable and if I was a person looking to have the comfort of ammenities without the hassle of setting up the portaloo or shower I would stay at the park. It’s horses for courses. I would focus on people traveling with kids and families, looking to break the monotony of the long drive for the kids, playground / games rooms etc and get word out that that’s what your offering. The key in business is to set yourself apart from the competition.
David, you need to review your charges if you hope to have these campers use your park. Maybe sites at low cost, no power but have nice shower etc.
would not stay at his second rate noisy caravan park,[overpriced as well].Mundulla makes us welcome a great spot if you visit down that way.
My wife and I have stayed at the Bordertown free sites,and being on an aged pension would not be able to travel at all if it were not for these sites.again we support as many businesses as possible in the local area not just one! We also collect any rubbish left around the area and this it usually left by people in cars etc. not by people staying overnight as they don’t want to have the site closed down.
We do the same, we call it support camping not free camping. And as for the,rubbish left around we have found it to be,9 times out of 10 to be,locals coming for weekends or overnight to party and leave their rubbish behind.
Unfortunately van park owners think its ok to have motel units, mini markets, lias fortours, some sell gas etc, but they cry woe is me , when they cant have a protected business.
They rarely have low cost sites, for those who dont need power. NOT all grey nomads, (good and bad in all societies) but most will endeavour, to buy in the town who gives them low cost or free sites.
They will fuel up, buy groceries, perhaps have a pub meal, a beer, newspapers, magazines, or coffee and cakes.
But you force them to pay $35 average per night, making it $245 per week out of their $326.5 per week pension, plus their fuel plus their rates etc back home. They cannot afford the fees PLAIN AND SIMPLE once upon a time caravan parks were a poor mans holiday, but not now.
Even cruises you can get on specials, $100 per day, great food, great entertainment, rooms cleaned, fantastic waiter service and travel.
We have been quoted $110 + per night during peak season, go figure, its just a parking spot.
Perhaps Mr Peterson should contact the caravan park at Julia Creek in Qld and discuss with them how they run a successful park whilst supporting the free camp site in the area. If he got off his backside he maybe able to realize that both options can co-exist with benefits to all.