A 12-month trial of a free camp at Pioneer Park on the outskirts of Ballarat in Victoria came within a whisker of being cancelled two months early following complaints from local caravan parks.
However, a decision on the fate of the free camp at Wendouree was delayed at this week’s City of Ballarat Council meeting so further consultation can be carried out.
Although the trial still has two months to run, there have been claims that the conditions of stay have been flouted, including people overstaying the two permitted nights and not meeting the self-containment water and toilet measures,
Local caravan park operators say they have gathered photographic evidence of small campervans, caravans, roof-top campers, tents, mini buses, four-wheel-drives, cars and people with swags using the park. The operators claimed about 53% of overnight users were ‘non-compliant’ with the water requirements.
The parks say their business has been hit by the free camp. In a submission to the council, they said site nights were down 120 in December 2014 compared with the previous year, with a further drop of 212 nights in January. In February, one park said it was down 58 site nights.
The Ballarat Courier said it visited Pioneer Park yesterday and found one recreational vehicle and another smaller van parked at opposite ends of the camping grounds.
Queensland couple Tony and Sue, who did not want their last name printed, told the newspaper they had slept in their campervan at the site for two nights. They estimated that, in that time, they had spent between $300 and $400 in the city on groceries, petrol and shopping.
Tony said if the freedom camping ground wasn’t in Ballarat he and his wife would have passed through.
“If we can’t stop somewhere, then we just keep going,” Tony told the Courier.
the parks a just far too expensive. Lower prices means higher volume. We are travelling for a year and simply cannot afford to stay in parks at there prices. I joined all clubs to get discounts, but they are still too high on our budget. Freedom camping is the only option, but if we do we will always spend in that town.
December, January, and February ?? WTF!? Guess what, that’s when these greedy park operators increase their fees without any increment in park services or facilities …. there is no incentive to use them, especially for a one or two night stop.
I notice its the caravan operators complaining .Must be hurting there business Sorry wont stop in Ballarat caravan parks
We had planned to visit Ballarat later this year, but only if there was a free or low cost camp available in the area. We would have no impact on caravan park business as we rarely stay in them. We are not a customer lost to the caravan park as we were never going to be there customer.
Perhaps the motels can complain about the caravan parks putting cabins in….
We need to tell every business in Ballarat that we have stayed there because they are an RV Friendly town and that we spent our money in their shop as we didn’t have to spend it in a caravan park. The local traders need to know that freedom of choice means more nomads will spend more tourist dollars across a variety of businesses in their town.
And Caravan parks still don’t get the picture, they sneak around this spot late at night, stayed one night use our toilet and water & spend nearly $400 in town. Drop your high rates and you might get some people stay.
agree with all the above comments. The CPs are not losing out as those of us who free camp do not stay in the parks. We just keep going. If parks lowered their fees for a benchmark ie: pensioners or???? They would get many more visitors. My business in the past was built on volume no price. The other businesses in town deserve some consideration.
Dawn, agree with you. As I mentioned in my first post. It’s been proven in other businesses that lower pricing will create higher turnover = $$$$$s. Does us a service and they get there profit on volume. You don’t have to smart to work it out in the long term. Great comments from you all.
I am utterly sick of there arogant CPowners who want to force us to use their parks. Forget it mate. The more you complain, the less we will use you park! You need us, we dont need you! Adjust to the market, the market is not going to adjust to you. Thats the essence of bussiness mate.
CP owners sneaking around campsites late at night with camera’s thats pathetic, One should just sook the dog on them.
we were on our way but Ballarat, we won’t be stopping.
I^m a pensioner travel solo and c/parks charge me the same fee as a couple. C/park are far too expensive…. This is why I bigot them and go Free Camping…..
We’re on our way from Hobart to Alice Springs in a “Leave No Trace” certified motor home, and were looking forward to planning a stop at Ballarat on our return journey IF we aren’t forced to stay in an unneeded caravan park. Please don’t take in the welcome mat! We’ve heard so many good things about your city. All we need is a spot to park overnight!
We visit the Ballarat area at least once a year but fortunately can stay with a mate, but
in all our travels around this country we rarely stay at caravan parks particularly in large towns or cities. From a different angle though, I wonder if the parks would reduce their rates if the councils reduced their rates in respect of the “CP’s” ???. That would encourage a few more to stay at the “CP’s” & perhaps spend more money in town.
Other than the CP’s, Ballarat is one of the worst towns for providing facility’s for caravaners in the form of parking, dump points & reasonably priced camping compared to the vast majority of towns & communities around Aust. who do & are reaping the benefits of the “travelling public”.
Will these comments be forwarded to the Council? If not, they should . . .
the INFO in Ballarat is in the middle of the main shopping centre and impossible for anyone towing a van to park, also the signage is non existent.
Of course the Caravan Parks are bleeting and use any excuse to shut them down, we free camp mostly in all states and find people very carefull, it is usuall backpackers who make the mess.
We have only had our van for 12 months and not done any free camping yet. Stayed in Big 4 Ballarat during March for a one night stop over and it was pretty scabby for the $39 fee. We had planned to make a few days of it, but chose not to due to poor facilities.