The Fraser Coast Council’s much lauded ‘stop and shop’ plan will be one of the strategies under the microscope as the Camping Options Stakeholder Group re-unites to review the region’s camping policy.
The plan, which allows self-contained travellers to stop at designated free camping spots in Hervey Bay and Maryborough if they produce receipts showing they have spent $10 at local businesses, will be discussed when the powers-that-be review the Camping Options Strategy next month.
The stated aim of the Camping Options Stakeholder Group when it was formed was to develop a strategy to increase visitors to the Fraser Coast region increase by 35%
While some people have said the ‘stop and shop’ plan was off the mark as it treated grey nomads like ‘schoolchildren’, the vast majority of travellers have embraced the initiative and appear eager to produce receipts to show how much they can – and do – contribute to regional economies.
Less popular has been the introduction of a $10 permit system for camping at Tiaro.
Tiaro Chamber of Commerce president, Darryl Stewart, told the ABC there had been drop in RV travellers stopping in his highway town since the introduction of the fee.
“The Tiaro businesses have lost business since this permit fee was introduced,” he said. “If you look on the Gympie north side at that overnight camping area it’s nearly chock-a-block full all of the time. In Childers their RV overnight stop is very popular. RVs haven’t got to go too far to bypass the Fraser Coast.”
Mr Stewart said he would fight for free RV sites at Tiaro.
“There’s a big percentage of the population going around Australia,” he told the ABC. “And we’re ignoring them!”
When we travelled Australia and stayed at free camp spots, it was natural to pop into town for a coffee or fuel. Adding a level of bureaucracy will add costs to the Council (who’s going to check the vouchers, and what if someone uses ‘tap and go’). There are so many flaws starting with the thought that caravaners are doing the wrong thing in the first place.
I’d hate to drop in for an overnighter after 9pm and find everything closed in a town to suffer a fine, or worse still drive on tired to the next spot because you can’t meet the regulations.
Well said. Add to this that there are only 4 sites and these can be occupied by parked cars so you cannot get in anyway, and it is only for 20 hours. Why would anyone with a reasonable sized rig go so far out of their way on the off chance that one of the 4 sites is available and they can spend their $10 and get a permit. It is just not a sensible solution.
Are these councils for real ? Have to prove what you spend in a town ? Treating Grey Nomads like kids? Surely councils are not that stupid ? Lunch costs more than $10 ! Fuel much more than that. Whats wrong with these councils that are so stupid and cant add up. They only have to watch and observe what people spend if they have doubts but that’s work …they are scared of that. Grey Nomads have worked hard for years for what they spend.
Just avoid these places and spend nothing there at all that’s the only way when the businesses suffer and start complaining. Nothing will change till then. Treat them how they treat the Grey Nomads. Just don’t put up with it.
We live within the FCRC (Fraser Coast Regional Council) area and am disappointed with some of the “not too well thought out” remarks re the spending of travellers in our area. It is very possible to shop, for example in Gympie, pass though Maryborough, stop over night at the Hervey Tourist info. centre and then the next morning after a bit of site seeing in the area, move on towards Bundaberg without spending a cent.
Is it really too much of a chore to fuel up, or stock up the larder or simply have a cup of coffee and then hand in the receipt to gain a permit ???.
I do understand that Tiaro is different, and agree that “having” to pay $10 per night for that stop in the town (we had a look at it recently), is a bit ordinary.
We travel in our van for 4 – 6 months every year and have done so for the last 20 years or so and, if we do stop in a council approved overnighter in or near a town, we try as a courtesy, to repay that town in some way even if it is just a cup of coffee. It also acts as a gauge as they (councils), gain an idea of visitor numbers and if it’s worth keeping these sites open.
So is it really that much of a problem to hand in your receipt ??????????.