In what could be a sign of things to come, a Tasmanian council has voted to introduce a ‘pay-if-you-want-to’ concept to a popular camping area.
While the concept was floated some time ago, the Dorset Council has just voted unanimously to go ahead with the idea at the campsite at Derby Park near Derby in Tassie’s northeast.
The site has traditionally been free but, going forward, those who are willing to pay can buy a ticket from a machine similar to a parking meter. They will then display a ticket for the number of nights they wish to stay.
Those not wanting to pay will not be made to, but signage will explain that the payment will go directly to the maintenance of the Derby mountain bike trails.
“We’ve done a lot of consultation with campers and agreed that $20 per site per night is a fair fee with that money going directly back into the Derby bike trails,” Mayor Greg Howard said. “We are now waiting on the ticket machine availability, so it will be a couple of months at least.”
The council recently canvassed the opinion of campers to see how they felt about the idea. It spoke to about 60 campers who were using the campground during the October school holidays. The council said the idea had received positive support, with feedback indicating that the optimum price point would be $20 per night.
The council made the decision after noting that campers are a large part of the local community and ‘add to the vibe and feel of Derby’.
The measure will only be implemented at Derby at this stage, but if successful it may be extended to other camping areas in the Dorset Council area once a new amenities block has been commissioned, which is expected in late 2022.
One thing that many people dislike is the otomathic ticket box, campt on Franklin and nearby they cam collect the fees have a good chat with the campers give information about the services site seeing as you travel, exilent program, the ticket boxes unable to match that welcoming friendliness.travelers will miss that