While it captured plenty of attention and was seen by many as a bold initiative, the Victorian Government’s ‘free camping in national parks’ scheme last summer has since come under serous fire.
Number one complaint was that it sparked a surge in ghost camping, whereby people booked a campsite and then simply didn’t show up, thereby denying others the opportunity to occupy the site.
The argument was that there was even less reason for people to cancel bookings when they changed their plans due to poor weather or any other reason.
Now, the state’s Liberal opposition has highlighted the fact that residents of affluent inner-city Melbourne suburbs dominated bookings for sites during the free camping period.
Some sites had more ghosts than actual campers! IMAGE: Cizza
Data from Parks Victoria reveals residents of Brunswick and Northcote took most advantage of the offer of free sites, with the Liberals saying it made a mockery of the claims the scheme would help struggling families book camping holidays.
Brunswick was the No.1 suburb taking up the free camping offer. Occupational data reveals 73% of the inner-city suburb population is employed as professionals, managers or public servants.
Shadow Minister for Public Land Management, Melina Bath, said the trial created a ghost camping crisis, where people booked multiple sites to block out adjacent spaces and secure premium locations.
“This ghost camping fiasco left sites empty while struggling families missed out and small businesses in regional Victoria paid the price,” Ms Bath said. “Labor’s free camping policy handed freebies to upper-middle income earners, who could easily afford the fees.”
She said the initiative was a waste of $9 million of taxpayers’ money and was doomed from the start.
“Among Victoria’s highest income earners, Brunswick residents snapped up free sites while families doing it tough, missed out,” Ms Bath said.
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Introduce a $50 deposit refundable upon arrival….simples!!
Not enough. $200 refund on arrival. Link all nat parks so that any person/s can only book one site. Also add rego numbers of cars and vans stop different family members using different details. If regos dont match on arrival no refund.
You need to have a cost and when cancelled you get a refund, better still, bring back park rangers.
Typical Government stuff up.
If a booked campsite is left vacant for a set time, say 6 hours, then it is put back on the list of available sites. Charging a refundable deposit is also a great idea, probably the best but l would raise it to $100 refundable if they turn up.
Unfortunately free items get abused as people have nothing at all to lose. There does need to be some penalty or lost deposit etc as a disincentive
No Bookings. No deposits. Ghost camping problem solved
i DO NIOT BELIEVE in FREE CAMPING in any NATIONAL PARKS these Parks need ongoing maintenance & Care and apAYING cAMPERS WILL HELP WITHNTHIS