With many regions struggling with the economic impacts of Covid-19 travel restrictions, the battle for the ‘grey dollar’ is fiercer than ever.
Some van parks are unhappy that they are being forced to comply with more rigorous Covid-safe requirements than free camping areas.
However, not all local authorities are buckling to pressure. In the southern New South Wales town of Hay, Mayor Bill Sheaffe, is adamant that the free camp at Sandy Point will remain open.
Councillor Sheaffe insists that the free camp provides a huge economic boost to the entire region, and rejects suggestions that those staying there weren’t doing the right thing.
“Since the outbreak of Covid-19 our Ranger has been collecting contact details of visitors each day,” he said. “Our Tourist Information Centre has also been collecting contact details since the outbreak, and I am not aware of any one not wishing to comply when asked for contact details as a precautionary measure in these uncertain times.”
The mayor said the area was a public reserve and that the council would be providing daily cleaning and rubbish removal regardless of camping.
“The campers at Sandy Point respect the fact that this is a primitive camping area and tend to distance themselves from each other,” he said. “Our Ranger checks the area very regularly and should anything be amiss it would be reported back to Council.”
Councillor Sheaffe said the majority of businesses supported the council’s decision to continue camping at Sandy Point … and with good reason.
“Council data and research shows that the free camping at Sandy Point brought conservatively just under a million dollars into the local economy in 2019, equating to 13 jobs in Hay,” he said.
Similarly, those staying at free camping areas in the Whitsundays are not being forced to provide their travel and contact details.
Officers visit Whitsunday Regional Council’s free camping areas at Lake Proserpine and the Proserpine RV Park every day and record registration details of their vehicles. Council community services director Julie Wright told the Sunshine Coast Daily that the form was a ‘second approach’ introduced to ensure the region’s safety but that it could not be enforced.
“With the RV Park, because it’s free and self-contained, if they choose not to fill in (the form) and leave before we get back, we can’t enforce that,” she said.
However, the owner of the Proserpine Tourist Park, Shirley Long, said there were strict processes in place for all visitors to her park and argued the same standards should apply at the council’s free camping areas.
“I think you need to have contact details for people to know where they’ve come from and if they’re a threat to the community,” Mrs Long said. “If we don’t know where they’ve come from, if there was a community transmission how are they going to track those people … if they don’t fill it out, they should not be able to stay there, simple as that.”
We went away for 18 days. We stayed at 4 caravan parks. First one for an overnight stop we filled out all the paper work for contact tracing. The next was for 10 days. No paper work no phone numbers nothing. When questioned about it the answer was we don’t do that here”. The next was an overnight stop. Again nothing. When questioned were told we have your details on the computer. Next was a 3 night stop. Again no tracking details. Again ” we are doing that here. So it seems caravan parks as re no different to free camps to me. If required I am able to give the names of these parks if required.
They have your details when you book in and ph numbers that’s all they need
Gladstone Council closed Calliope and Boynedale sometime back.
They were reopened 2 days ago. I’m in Gladstone, it was in the local pages.
Most people who free camp are self contained, so self sufficient, they do not need to share camp kitchens, bathrooms and other facilities provided by caravan parks. If they just pulled up on the side of the road somewhere, along with several other vans, who is going to take their names and contact details. This is just another example of caravan park owners grasping at any little thing to get free camping obliterated. I personally do notfree camp, but those that wish too should have that option
Its not about whether it’s fair or not. Its about contact tracing. Being responsible. Who us going to be able to trace any contacts in free campgrounds? I have seen our local free camps packed to the hilt, vanners socially gathering, and dumping rubbish and toilet waste. Not a good result if any one of those campers is or becomes covid 19 positive. Caravan Parks should be operating to an industry covid safe plan to keep their guests safe and be responsible for the ability to contact trace. If not, they are not abiding by the gov health requirements and should be reported. If the parks are operating without shared amenities, i.e. only for the self contained then they are basically operating in the same way as a free camp, but paid. As I said, no matter how you camp, I believe some contact details are essential. No it’s not fair, it’s stupid and irresponsible not to.
A lot more communal and common areas in a C.P
These C.P need to realise people who are your customers will remember for a long long time who was a nasty C.P and good C.P during this national lock down
Just same same story. Times and vehicles have changed. C.P must change as well to cater for the self sufficient customer
Is corellapark and Fletcher creek open?
Fletchers creek is open
May as well free camping,stayed at Mudgee showground and paid the full cost of the overnight stay. All amenities and facilities were locked due to covid,make sure you are self contained before travelling.