The historic Queensland town of Goondiwindi is to scrap its free camping site near Redmond Park.
Having trialled the idea, Mayor Graeme Scheu said the cost of continuing the trial, or pushing for a permanent site, was too prohibitive. Cr Scheu told the Goondiwindi Argus that the main cost would be policing ‘compliance’, which was estimated at around $42,000 a year.
The mayor said it came down to one simple question. Does council represent ratepayers or ‘some free travellers’?
“It’s just too much money,” he said
Goondiwindi sits on the banks of the Macintyre River and is much loved by many grey nomads, but Mayor Scheu concluded that, while tourism and the drive market were major contributors to the regional economy, the council needed to ensure it made decisions that were financially responsible.
“I’m not 100% they (travellers) are spending big in town, just not convinced. I refuse to believe they walk into town (from the site),” he said. “I believe the biggest factor for the CBD is having the Tourist Info Centre in town, they park and stop.”
Other councillors were equally unconvinced with Cr Joan White saying she had been told the free camp ‘spoiled the look of the town’, and Cr Rick McDougall saying he had been told it was a ‘blight’.
However, not everyone was happy for the site to close. Cr David Turner said the free camp had generated positive comments from the travelling community and Goondiwindi didn’t need the reputation it once had for being anti RV-friendly. And Cr Lachie Brennan said he believed the benefit to Goondiwindi by those staying in the free camp site has been undervalued.
However, the mayor told councillors they were in a ‘no-win’ situation and it was ‘probably about 50-50’ for people who believed was a benefit or not. And he told the Argus that it was unfair to say Goondiwindi did not have free camp sites or there weren’t other options for tourists.
“We have excellent free camp reserves on offer and we were pleased to learn that some of the caravan parks have now decided to offer a low-cost camping option,” he said.
The council was forced to make a decision about the free camping trial after the Department of Natural Resources, Mines & Energy told the council its preliminary view was that the trial should not continue.
The council will now arrange a transitional period for the closure of the town trial.
A good reason to bypass this town
I agree
This is extremely short sighted, ask Port Hedland if their free camp is worth it. Absolutely! they have hundreds of vehs stop over the 3 days we where there.
As for $42000 for compliance, someone has played with those figures. A drive through by a Ranger all ready on the pay roll doesn’t come close to this.
It just means those who where going to stop will look else where and the local community will have a true understanding of the value of that camp and possibly a new Mayor.
Well guess what Goondiwindi, you will be the loser in this scenario as no one will stop in your town. Travellers will do their shopping and fuel their vehicles somewhere else. That would not be the only shopping people do but everyone needs fuel and food.
Goodbye Goondiwindi, We always enjoy stopping at the park, and shopping at IGA! also have a meal out. Will just keep travelling.
Just another anti grey nomad QLD town. Hence I rarely ever venture north of the NSW border. Nsw offers far better than Qld.
i love goondiwindi… i stay at the rainbow reserve free camp and there are another 3 of those out of town sure…. but you can drive into town as people do from redmond park…… and it is quieter…. and it was an eyesore….
Have stopped at Goondiwindi twice this year, both times at the show grounds. These are privately owned and for just $10 per night you get shower toilets as well as power. Why the heck do you need to be able to camp for free when you can have the above.
Well said & I agree.
Because I have my own shower and toilet. Besides it is the priciple. I have in the past spent quite an amount of money stopping there but never plan to stop again. Smart towns like York in WA, have a free camp with water and power one Street behind the main Street in town on the side is a Riverside part with a toilet and shower block. Of course we not only shopped and fill up our tank there but also walked up and had dinner in town. Mostly caravaners either pay for a caravan park OR spend in the town, not often both.
Now $25 per night.
well we stayedat showgrounds in feb this year and it wasnt $10 night i can tell u that . just checked wikki camps and its $25 nite with power !!!!!!!!!!we wont be stopping there again . and wen they say nomads dont walk to the shops course we dont . we get groceries and fuel on the way thru or leaving !!!!!!!they will b sorry . we spend money every town we stay in . no more goondiwindi for us !!!!!!
Pay a fair price and don’t expect others to support you!
I agree. User pays is only fair.
Well Goondiwindi Nindigully Pub will b clapping their hands as lots of travelllers will by pass you now Your LOSS
Well it looks like the Caravan Park operators in Gundy have again been able to convince the council re their “”Loss of Business””
due to free camping. Just imagine how much $$$ revenue has been lost to the other traders in this unique town. As for the $42000 cost per year. There are Stats Stats and damn lies.
I think the $42000 fits the later. $800 per week, give me a break, Mayor Greame Scheu. P.P.M by your council.
At least another 130 km travel on the Gore highway will get you a free camp at Millmerran, a real RV friendly town. I have used the free camp at Goondiwindi, sorry to see it go.
When will people learn,, travellers = $$$$
Welcome them to your town and reap the rewards
Just another reason not to go to that hick town.
The elephant in the room might be the Dept of Natural Resources??
` told the Council its preliminary view was that the trial should not continue`. What have they got to do with telling a Council how to manage tourism?
Did Council actually discuss the issue with the Chamber of Commerce or business owners?
Plenty of fuel and supplies at Moree and Millmerran…..
We stayed here recently. Not a free camp. We spent $170 in the town for thanks for one night. There is a box for people to put their receipts in, so an idea can be got on what people are spending in town during their stay, but most people fuel up when leaving town. I don’t think too many people return to drop off their fuel receipt, let alone leaving any other receipts behind. Goodi will be amazed how the towns income will drop with less spending from overnighters. Bad move Gondi.
Yes I will just bypass Goondiwindi now and head to Millmerran they are a real friendly mob, and thankful for grey nomads.I said it before I,ll say it again the councils just don,t get it.Oh well gungy,s loss another towns gain.Stevo.
The best thing about Goondiwindi is it’s an easy drive through. No real reason to stop over now.
Remember Cloncurry they shut the feecamp and the traders lost lots of money and guess what after about 4 months of no nomads they opened up again. Bypass the town till they wake up.
Recently in Maryborough I heard grey nomads referred to as “mobile” wallets. In other words people who move about and who spend money and Maryborough is doing all in its power to encourage nomads to stay in their city at no cost or just out of town at the airport for $10.00.
We have also stayed at the Goondiwindi showgrounds, but it is a bit of a shocker for $25.00 a night with no facilities. Also it is just 12 months since the Caravan Clubs of Qld held the 2017 State Rally there. and the mobile wallets were on show during that week, to the delight and benefit of the local traders.
Some people are simply to blind to see the bleeding obvious
how many coucillers own caravan parks.
just short sighted, bugger your mates who are feeling the pinch.