The growing popularity of camping at the Albury Showgrounds is apparently hitting the business of the adjacent caravan park hard … and thus a causing a major headache for the authorities in the New South Wales town
The Border Mail newspaper reports that Albury Council has been long been at odds with the Showgrounds Trust, which manages the showgrounds on behalf of NSW Crowns Land, over recreational vehicles using the site without permission.
While the activity has been going on for decades without major dramas, the council received an official complaint last May and began investigating the issue. It found that the number of people using the site is increasing and the length of stay in some instances has become 10-plus days.
The operators of the adjoining caravan park have reportedly informed council their business is suffering due to camping on the showgrounds.
The Border Mail says campers are charged a small fee to stay at the showgrounds with money collected used on upkeep of existing amenities.
On Monday evening, the council’s planning and development committee will consider a recommendation that it defer compliance action at the site for 12 months. However, it will be asked to restrict camping to five sites and restrict stays to a maximum of two nights. The Border Mail reports that it is also being recommended that sites be serviced by a reticulated water supply, toilets and refuse disposal facilities; and no caravan, recreational vehicle or tent is to be located closer than six metres to any other.
Also, unoccupied caravans, camper vans or tents are not to be allowed to remain in the designated area for more than 24 hours.
Last week, it was revealed that a plan to convert the Weatherall Masonry site across the river in Wodonga was already on the table. Some councillors reacted to the news by saying Albury Council was being too slow in reacting to the economic opportunity offered by grey nomads and other caravanners and motorhomers.
After visiting Victoria last Christmas, they would do better to reduce the speed limit on their bitumen roads. We were appalled at the poor state of a lot of highways and freeways. Given the number of vehicles using unsealed roads, I don’t think it will make much of a dent in the road toll.
Why oh why I won’t be going to that caravan park this is bullying where is the freedom of choice
Great comment, but in the end who suffers, the town of course. All we will do is bypass Albury. Caravan Park greed wins again
This is the future. .supply affordable accommodation for all and we will come and spend our money and enjoy your town ..who knows we may come back permanently
I agree, isn’t it funny Parks scream foul but most are filling up with cabins in competition with other accommodation facilities but that is different apparently. The problem is people continue to pay the ridiculous prices for parks that offer average facilities. You can’t condemn us Nomads for exploring all options.
Exactly Brian, Caravan Parks are just too expensive.
you’re right Brian.
We owned a motel in Busselton 2000 -2006 and the caravan parks down the road from us didn’t give a rats about putting in cabins and taking business away from us and nor did the council.
Maybe states should follow the NT governments approach to caravaning. Many free and low fee camp sites. This encourages grey nomads to spend money in the local community which keeps small businesses going. Caravan park fees are becoming ridiculous eg $80 for a powered site no water when you are self sufficient. Actions like this will only deter people from visiting locations so the whole community suffers financial gain just to appease these type of caravan parks. Caravan parks may benefit from a tiered payment system to minimize their vacancies according to the use of their facilities.
lots fo places other than albury to camp and spend our money
We are fully self contained, why do need to be cramped into a caravan park, make the price viable so we can spend more money at other businesses. Just bypass the caravan park. They are taking business from hotels & motels. Fair go.
Why do councils listen to caravan park operators bitching about free or low cost camping is beyond me. Coles and Woolies dont complain to councils about Aldi opening a new shop in town.
Caravan parks think they have the rights to the traverling publics money.
A very good example of this is Murray Bridge in SA, the van parks bitch about the showground camping. One park operator checks the showground out daily to see how many are camping their.
I travel in a fully self contained caravan and do not patronize the larger parks as they are too expensive for grey nomads smaller parks at a fairer cost ok. We spend in small towns that welcome us , a win win situation for all.Morven is a good example 100 residents who wait for the start of the travelling season . Cheers
One complaint from a caravan park, if they put a bit of pride in there caravan park and elbow grease they might get more vistors to stay good bye albury i will stay at a smaller town spend my money
One complaint from a caravan park, if they put a bit of pride in there caravan park and elbow grease they might get more vistors to stay good bye albury i will stay at a smaller town spend my money
Don’ care what they do, just won’t stay there any more their loss.
most caravan parks are putting in more and more cabins and motel/hotel accommodation then suffers so it’s ok for them to do this. Do they want it all.
We are nomads on a pension in a self contained van. We avoid any location that isn’t RV friendly and offering affordable and reasonably priced sites.
We don’t need jumping pillows, swimming pools, camp kitchen’s or power. just a safe site at a fair price. Good bye Albury you’re in the rear view mirror for us
We are nomads on a pension in a self contained van. We avoid any location that isn’t RV friendly and offering affordable and reasonably priced sites.
We don’t need jumping pillows, swimming pools, camp kitchen’s or power. just a safe site at a fair price. Good bye Albury you’re in the rear view mirror for us
Just put this town on my BY-PASS list we enjoy the freedom and larger.spaces between vans. Support the councils and local services not opportunistic caravan park operators
we stayed at the show grounds last year and was so lovley and looking at the caravan park was appauling the conditon of it wouldnt leave my dog there will only stay at showgrounds nice and clean and freindly staff