While most local authorities around the country are looking for ways to deter budget-minded grey nomads and backpackers in campervans from staying in their area, one Sydney council is taking the exact opposite approach.
Sutherland Shire – which incorporates highly desirable beachside suburbs of Cronulla and Wanda – has just voted to explore ways to make its beachside suburbs a “destination point for local and overseas campervan users”.
The council is now investigating the possibility of providing facilities for campervan parking and single overnight stays in suitable areas of ‘high tourist’ appeal with easy access to local cafes and business.
The Sydney Morning Herald reports that the councillor who proposed the motion, Steve Simpson, identified that there was a shortage of tourist accommodation, particularly camping sites near the beaches.
He said that, as a result, valuable grey nomads – who spent $700 on average during any stay on shopping and dining – were bypassing the shire.
“By not having that, we miss out on the benefits. I want them to spend their children’s inheritance at local shops,” Mr Simpson said. “I want them to spend money and go to restaurants.”
He believes that a short-stay camping site with facilities nearer the beach would encourage retirees in campervans, caravans and RVs to visit, as well as giving younger travellers in campervans an affordable way to spend the night without having to camp in the street illegally.
“If you put people in areas that are well-maintained, and they can go there at a reasonable cost, it takes away that problem of being harassed in streets, and people knocking on their windows,” Mr Simpson said.
Sutherland’s mayor Kent Johns told the Herald that the shire was looking at how to improve tourist numbers “without attracting undesirables”, and he cautioned that the current investigation was only ‘an exploratory document’.
The biggest hurdle to the plan is likely to be skyrocketing property prices near the beach and potential local objections.
The president of the Cronulla Chamber of Commerce, Mark Aprilovic, warned the council  was opening a ‘can of worms. The shire wanted more visitors, he told the Herald, but beachfront areas were densely populated and heavily used by locals.
“Where can you put them [people in vans] and how can do you do this without offending the local people?” asked Mr Aprilovic.
Mmmm, do I detect the sound of a penny dropping ??? Wondering if Mr Simpson could speak with many other councils throughout Australia ??$700 per RV times how many RV’s, times 52 weeks, times ?? Years …..
Mr Simpson, you make it happen and I’ll call in …. often.
I think Mr Simpson has his statistics skewed. Nobody I know spends $700 on a one night free stay. That would be more than the average grey nomad spends in a week, for many it would be more than they spend in a fortnight.
I agree … excluding park fees we may spend $200 … dinner and supplies … and maybe $100 Fuel
Very smart move. Just do it and we will come AND SPEND MONEY !!!
Every council, business owner, traveller and grey nomad needs a Steve Simpson. As a RV owner I have been advocating the same strategy, albeit at a grounds root level with fellow campers/travellers. Which is always met with a chorus of agreement. For example a town called Walpole, a one street town with a few shops (yes it also has 2 caravan parks) has a fantastic park up area with fantastic facilities, opposite the few shops that are in the town that would adequately accommodate 3 to 4 caravans/RV’s a night. It would be great to park up over night (for a reasonable fee) using this park up area, get up in the morning cross the road buy a cooked breaky, coffee and a paper and possibly more. BUT the sign states no overnight camping/parking. Guess what, i travel another 20-50 ks down the road and park up for the night and move on in the morning……..Who’s the loser here? Not me!! Walpole is just one example there is plenty more exactly the same. That said, it is not that easy for councils to get the right balance here. Because there is some what of a moral obligation by councils to look after their rate payers and caravan parks in their town by not allowing overnight camping (loss revenue for caravan parks) and there lays the problem. This in some way is protecting caravan parks and gives no incentive to park owners to charge a reasonable rate for over nighters, not to mention the sub standard of some parks, but thats another issue. I would be more than happy to pay a reasonable rate for my overnight stay. Until that happens (and i am not going to hold onto my breath for the obvious reasons) small businesses will be the losers here.
Steve is on the right track and i hope his idea gets off the ground and is taken up by more councils.
Every town that has allowed us to stay a few nights either for free or low rates we have made sure we spent money on fuel, supplies and had a take out meal as a thank you it is really appreciated.. we are off again soon and plan to revisit those places 🙂
I couldn’t agree more, each town we go to we make sure that we spend money. We love to free camp but also we would pay a nominal feeand be happy to do it. Caravan Parks are pricing themselves out of the market for seniors.
I think just waiting for councils to grant permission for places like this is like making a birthday wish. Unrealistic and Unproductive. Well done to the very rare councilors like Steve Simpson but…. WE need to do something too, to make this a reality. Either constant bombardment of local councils, or media awareness- but some more pro- active approach. Its not all about them doing something- its about US doing something too! If not- stop whinging!, and keep wishing.