The popular destination Busselton is full to bursting over holiday periods such as Easter … but the West Australian city is not about to introduce free camping as a way of relieving the pressure.
Mayor Grant Henley said the local economy thrived when accommodation providers were at or near capacity, and introducing free camping would risk undermining that.
“The City feels very strongly that the introduction of free camping into the region would be detrimental to existing providers who pay substantial rates and are a very important segment of our tourism industry,” he told the West Australian. “Free camping brings a risk of the illegal and unregulated lighting of fires.”
The state’s shadow tourism minister, Libby Mettam MLA, said concerns had been raised regarding free camping sites that were in operation near commercial caravan parks.
“The caravan industry is a $19 billion industry across Australia; it is of great value … in Western Australia, over 900,000 people travel across the state engaging in camping,” she told the West Australian. “We are seeing free camp sites supported and invested in by local governments such as the Shire of Plantagenet, paid for by ratepayers, and competing directly with small businesses.”
One local park manager, Jamie Brady from the Caves Caravan Park at Yallingup, said sites were only fully booked for a few nights over Easter, and again over New Year.
“We strongly support the growth of the caravan and camping sector in the South West and find that the City of Busselton provides strong support to the sector,” he said. “The ever-increasing number of events held by the City and the private sector as well as the State Government’s road trip campaign result in us continuing to see an increased number of people visiting our park and these initiatives help attract campers outside the usual peak periods.”
Everyone had to move with the times. Camping doesn’t have to be free, but low cost with less amenities than caravan parks. Caravans built today do not require a caravan park all the time. People will not visit if there is not affordable camping and if they do, will not spend as much money in town. Town businesses then miss out. The people who make these decisions are very narrow minded and obviously do not have a modern caravan. We like open spaces and do not like to be crammed into a caravan park all the time, some of which have so many cabins there is not much room left for caravans. Aren’t these cabins Taki g business away from motels? We just have to accept change and make the most of it as it is called progress
I fail to see how introducing a council run, low cost camp would be “detrimental to existing providers” when their parks are already full. Are you not turning away tourism dollars. Busselton is a beautiful town, I have lived there, but the caravan park is not enough. It’s overpriced and crammed full. You have some beautiful, underutilized land that could easily be opened up to self contained vehicles with a strict no fire policy …your council coffers would be welcoming it!
Take a look at rapid bay in South Australia…see how it’s run..get your hands on more of the tourist dollar and embrace change!
Not another free camp caravan park debate….it goes on and on. We all know what’s best for us individually how we travel and camp. Decisions will be made by the council’s and whoever. What can we do about it really. Pick your spots that you like and what suits and get on with enjoying the country and all it has to offer…in the time we have left. Good luck and safe travels. Cheers.
OT, Easter is now over and it is time to start packing the caravan. Some information for places to visit this year would be appreciated. With droughts and floods in northern Australia it is hard to know where to go.
When will councils and C.P move with the times and provide low cost facilities. Modern travellers are quite self sufficient By refusing to adapt and change C.P are actually simply killing themselves.
I agree with Suzi and Queensland Nomad. We need more low cost caravan parks. I need power to run my a/c, water, sullage, a sewage dump point, rubbish bins, and the occasional access to Landry facilities.
I do not need Amenities Blocks, swimming pools, jumping pillows, camp kitchens and the like.
Its all well and good that some campers need water and power
but some others don’t and any council that doesn’t realise that there is a section of the travelling public who could help there retail sector be more profitable throughout the year have got there head in the sand.
More and more towns throughout this country are finding the benefits of free campers spending money in there retail sectors.
Busselton is out for us .access to some type of park up is needed.
Look at Esperance W.A they have done it low cost overflow park with just basic “toilets,camp kitchen”. This only open in the peak season and only when the caravan parks are full, the tourist info center keeps tabs on it.
As stated some people still think of caravans as they where 50yrs ago.
Thats my 2bobs worth take it or leave it.
As a ratepayer of Busselton, a caravanner and a former motel operator I agree with Mayor Henley. If the councils of Australia would stop charging rates and the governments of Australia stop charging land tax then the caravan parks might be able to do something.. What happens to these businesses in the dead of winter. I walk through Amblin caravan park during the winter months on my daily walk and there is hardly anyone in, if the navy didn’t own the park, a private owner would sell. Hospitality is not all it’s cracked up to be.
On our “lap of Oz” we paid $98 per night in a Busselton Caravan Park over the X-mas period. Outrageous! We will NEVER go near this place again!
We too will never stay in Busselton again.Rude service & overpriced caravan parks piggybacking on the popularity of the Margaret River area. Albany & Esperance leave Busselton for dead.
The last time we were in Busselton, we had to replace four batteries, fill up with diesel, restock the pantry and our bar. We also did the Jetty tour and purchased souvenirs. We then moved on to the next available freedom-of-choice camp site away from this town. How can you call this “competing directly with small businesses”? Just because we don’t want to use their caravan parks doesn’t mean other small businesses were disadvantaged. And what about the cabin accommodation in the caravan parks? Aren’t the caravan parks competing with resorts, hotels and motels? I rest my case!!
I live in Busselton, and have a self contained RV, and i am disgusted that we do not have a free /cheap RV parking area here, ( there is one in the tuart forest but it is too small and too far out of town.)
I have done the big lap twice and
have found that towns that do provide free camping thrive.
$98 for peak time caravan park is obscene.
Long live the free camps of this great country…enjoy
Gooday,
How about we refer to it as “FREEDOM CAMPING”, that then covers Low Cost as well as Free, or No Cost Campsites. Has a much better meaning to it and does not necessarily mean it has to be” FREE!”.