While the plan also covers a number of important areas relating to how the area can best manage the ongoing increases in tourism numbers and how visitors can be better dispersed to avoid overcrowding in certain spots, it is the potential introduction of a booking system and camping fees that will catch most grey nomads’ attention.

The Draft Masterplan notes that while there is a long-established existence of free camping in the Bay of Fires area, there are current and future issues associated with its sustainable management.

“The strain on the area’s campgrounds is particularly evident during peak periods and as visitation to the region continues to increase, this is expected to continue and potentially worsen,” it said. “Despite the 28-day maximum-stay limit, ‘ghost camping’ continues to occur (where a campsite is held without the camper being present) and some evidence of overstaying is also noted.”

The plan says that, in some locations, this contributes to campgrounds already near, at capacity, or beyond capacity, and can result ‘in informal campground expansion’.

“Feedback so far has also heavily focused on improving the management of all campgrounds such as through the use of a booking system and options to define sites,” the plan said. “With this, there have also been suggestions to move away from the fee-free camping and introduce a payment process – with the intention to ‘give back’ to the local area through using these fees for upgrades and general maintenance of the area.”

However, the report notes that the free accommodation option is also highly valued by visitors, and any future changes to campground management would need to be carefully considered in the context of broader visitor behaviour, environmental sensitivity, and existing state-level camping and tourism strategies, to avoid overflow into other environmentally sensitive areas.

The Masterplan says decisions regarding the structure, amount and implementation of any fee will be determined by PWS through its ongoing state-wide review of booking systems and fees across all PWS-managed campgrounds.

It said management options that might be considered include fees being varied depending on the ‘level of service’ available at campgrounds; and fees being varied depending on the ‘type’ of site (i.e. motorhome site, double site, tent site etc) being used.

“A camping fee provides a range of benefits, including funding for the ongoing maintenance and management of facilities and amenities, as well as broader flow-on benefits to surrounding conservation and land management programs,” the Masterplan said.

Feedback on the Bay of Fires Masterplan can be made by clicking here.

The Draft Masterplan can be viewed by clicking here.