The Victorian Government is reportedly planning to make camping free across the state this summer as it seeks to ease cost-of-living pressures over the holiday period.
The move would strip fees from the state’s 131 bookable campsites, saving Victorians an estimated $7 million.
Premier Jacinta Allan told the Herald Sun that it was one way the government could help families battling cost-of-living pressures.
“We have a beautiful natural environment in Victoria, it’s one of our great strategic assets,” she said. “My kids love camping. I know thousands of other kids love camping … families love to go camping because that’s where those really special memories are made.”
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The Premier said the government wanted those memories to be easier to be make.
“And that’s why I’m looking at how we can, coming into this summer period, make camping free for families, because it is a great family experience,” she said. “And also, too, we want to make sure families can have the confidence to plan ahead for their holiday.”
The Herald Sun reports that the plan is also expected to encourage holidaymakers to stay in Victoria.
Camping fees in state and national parks have been halved since 2019, with fees currently ranging from $3 per night at Mt Arapiles to $40.70 at Tidal River.
The newspaper says latest data shows camping and recreation in the state’s national parks contribute $2.1bn towards the tourism industry each year. It also supports an estimated 20,000 jobs.
According to the Herald Sun, the free camping is one of a number of government initiatives aimed at helping families get outdoors, including free fishing kits for Victorian students.
It includes a $106.6m package to improve campgrounds, walking trails, 4WD tracks and visitor facilities across Victoria’s parks and state forests.
The newspaper reports that May’s state budget also committed $115m towards forest restoration and exploring opportunities in camping, hunting, hiking, mountain biking and four-wheel driving.
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Victoria recently had an enquiry into duck hunting, it recommended that it be banned similar to some other states.
Jacinta Allen’s husband is a keen duck hunter.
Guess what, duck hunting is still allowed in this state because she reversed the recommendations.
I notice in this article, she wants to commit money to hunting.
Good on her. What is wrong with hunting, it puts a lot of money into the economy as well.
It is my belief that is is getting so difficult. Over crowded caravan parks and cramped in with a neighbour a metre or two away, is not my style of camping. Not enough free camping sites around. We go to great lengths to find somewhat secure and isolated places to enjoy our time alone. We also additionally even if it is free make sure we inject funds into each local community. EG. Dinner at the local pub, local shopping in general. Think it is a great proposal and many more areas should be opened up. It cerainly does inject funds into the towns and for those that obey the rules, clean up after themselves and make the place look like you where never there. Great job. Travel safe.
This is a great idea for camping in Victoria. One now needs to ask NPWS NSW why they still charge $6. Booking fee for a free camp. This was only intended to be used to track numbers during the Covid outbreak.
Exactly.
I don’t think we can really complain about a small booking fee. There is costs involved and six bucks won’t stop anyone
We just returned from 2 weeks exploring National Parks in western Vic. Spent it camping and 4WDing. Every camp we stayed in had a picnic table, fire ring, immaculately clean pit toilets, sometimes even a shelter. Every one was FREE. Well done Victoria!
We should not be paying for camping in our own state forests, when we free camp we try to eat at a local pub and have a coffee at a local cafe, when we have to pay for a site we don’t spend money on those items.
The Victorian Government are certainly creatively b.s-ing to us all AGAIN!
Firstly they started charging for National & other parks to rake in the money, because and most of that’s certainly not being spent on maintenance.
And now they claim to save us Victorians an estimated $7 Million for 131 bookable(payable) sites over the holiday period …
They say ” The Victorian Government is reportedly planning to make camping free across the state this summer as it seeks to ease cost-of-living pressures over the holiday period. ”
Hang on, someone in State Treasury (or Jacinta Allen herself) is B.S-ing us !
They claim this $7M will be saved OVER THE SUMMER HOLIDAY PERIOD … that’s 23Dec’24 to 28Jan’25 (inclusive)
=> $7,000,000 / 12(mths) then divided by 131 campsites = $4.452.92 per campsite over the Summer Holiday Period !!
Even IF we divided that “claimed” $7M saving at these 131 campsites over the whole YEAR that comes to over $146 Per Site, Per Night EVERY Day of a year !!
Really Jacinta Allen ??? Are you lying again ?
I think you are getting camps mixed up with campsites. There are more than 131 campsites at Tidal River camp alone. There are dozens of camps.
Incidentally, it wasn’t this Victorian Government that introduced the fees. The fees have been here for a long time, and the Andrews government halved the park fees.
Parks belong to us ALL should never have been a fee or the ridiculous pre booking
Hunting in all its modes amounts to nothing more than aggravated animal cruelty.
Its adherants have a certain amount of self loathing and derive sordid pleasure from
the domination of lesser creatures – wether animal or human. We are the only species that derives pleasure from other species fight for life and terror.
It would be showing you tax paying dollars for the use of NP’s.
My frustration is not being able to book a site only to find there is plenty of free sites but online booking said full
So frustrating
Yes free camping would make me stay longer. It would mean resupplying from local towns also. I (we) love Victorian country side and the variety of hills, mountains, creeks, coast and walks are extremely appealing to us and our friends.