Another recently-introduced free camping spot for self-contained vehicles appears to be having the desired effect … drawing in more travellers and boosting the local economy.
Back in July, the council in the South Australian town of Gawler decided to allow RVs to stay for 48 hours at its Murray Street South Car Park, and it did so with widespread community support.
Council’s CEO, Chris Cowley, told the Grey Nomads that, depending on their size, the site can accommodate up to a dozen or so RVs at any one time.
“The site has been well utilised since it became operational,” he said. “Anecdotally, there are 4-8 RVs staying overnight on any given day.”
There is plenty of space for self-contained RVs. PIC: Town of Gawler Council
There isn’t a booking system for the site so it is a case of first in, best dressed … but Mr Cowley said it was working really well.
“Some people staying at the site have told Council that they have spent money in Gawler that they wouldn’t have spent if the site was not available,” he said. “Having the ability to stay overnight has meant they have stayed in town longer, buying supplies, meals and enjoying what Gawler has on offer.”
Come stay with us! The 48-hour RV stop is being well used. PIC: Town of Gawler Council
With a 48-hour limit, Mr Cowley said the council’s Community Safety Officers would be actively monitoring the site to ensure that people do not overstay.
But it is a case of so far, so good … and that’s great news for everybody.
“There was excellent support within Council and the community for this initiative,” Mr Cowley told the Grey Nomads.
The Grey Nomads recently reported that the NSW town Woodstock was opening a up a budget campground at its showgrounds with overwhelming community backing … and councils have since been queueing up to tell their story.
WA’s Shire of Dundas says the Norseman Free 72-hour RV Park continues to be a popular stop for travellers in fully self-contained vehicles exploring the Goldfields and beyond.
And it was similar story at the Rifle Creek Rest Area in Queensland’s Mareeba Shire, where a stay costs just $2 per night, with facilities including toilets, cold showers, rubbish bins, and sheltered picnic tables.
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Makes sense for small towns to allow overnight parking! Always stop in RV friendly towns to shop, buy fuel, eat out. If there’s no parking then no stopping!
Just ask the small businesses in the main street of Miriam Vale Qld what they think of the free overnight RV stop. Travellers who would otherwise use the 2 servos on the highway benefit from RV travellers who would otherwise fuel up and stay elsewhere.
It’s always well used, and you see the travelling folk wandering up and down the street & in & out of the shops & the pub.
Gawler is not really a small town, it has a population of 32,000 people.
We shop & buy fuel in large towns, it’s cheaper.
Same at Golden Beach Victoria. Donation. And at Heyfield.
When will the Councils wake up and stop these restrictive practices for the benefit of the town generally?
Councils just can’t get it into their heads that “protecting” the vanparks excludes a sizeable percentage of travellers that were not going to stay @ $40 a night anyway – but will stay @ free and low cost camps, thereby bolstering the towns $ take. So dumb!!!
Our most favoured “free camp area” is the entirety of unmolested Australia.
On a recent 45 night return trip to Boulia for the camel “races”, we spent just 7 in paid camping areas. Guess where we were happier.
Show grounds camping is very successful but the stay price is go to high when considering most vans are 12vol the only thing I would need 240 volts for is the battery charger for is occasionally so what I’m saying is $30 for power and water and they want $25 for no power and water, not all but most. $15 for a night stay is plenty, we payed the money to run cheaper not them, I’d like to hear what other members think.
that’s great news but it would be better if it was open for all some people don’t have a toilet on board like camper trailers and campervans but still buy fuel and supply’s a toilet block would be good for the town to use also
Mitchell Qld, Neil Turner Weir. Beautiful spot and a beautiful little welcoming town with a beautiful hot spar well worth a extended stop.
At last some council’s are starting to wake up with allowing free camping in designated parking areas in town. Not being dictated to by greedy caravan park owners who in sum towns charging $60+ a night. It is also good to see show grounds being opened up to caravaners in some towns as well. This all helps generate more revenue for these places. So wake up towns who are not on board yet.
Gympie hasn’t woken up yet. The showgrounds have a huge area and one corner would be suitable with a toilet block and water already there but they refuse to open it up to travellers. Across the road there is a shopping centre with woolworths, butcher, bottleshop, fruitshop, cafe, newsagent and a couple of specialty stores. There are also 2 service stations. A couple of years ago the show society cried poor so the weak councillors gave $10,000 of ratepayers money to them instead of telling them that they have a wonderful asset to generate their own funds.
Is it really free? Someone has to pay for rubbish removal, water supply and sewage dumping. Yes, tourists which include ‘grey nomads’, contribute to the local economy as do the local residents. We are happy to pay our fare share of amenities that we all have use.
Nothing is free! Let’s all pay to contribute to use.
Not sure why some people expect small town local councils to install and maintain toilet facilities so they can stay for “free”. There should be at least a minimal charge to stay at these areas. If travellers can’t afford to contribute some money to the cost of cleaning and maintenance of these facilities then maybe stay out of town in a free camp area without the toilet and water. We as travellers can’t expect van park prices to be still the same as the 1990’s.
Kimba SA. Their sporting venue is wonderful with toilets, camp kitchen, and is free.
It is half way across Australia where the big galah is.
Kimba in SA is the best we have found