A Queensland council has unveiled plans for six new free camping sites as part of an overarching ‘grey nomad friendly’ strategy.
It’s a red letter day for all budget-minded travellers as it perhaps shows a wider acknowledgement of the benefit long-term caravanners and motorhomers bring to a region.
The proposed new sites form part of Gympie Regional Council’s RV strategy as it seeks to capitalise on a growing “grey nomad” tourism industry.
The Gympie Times reports that Amamoor, Gunalda, Gympie Showgrounds, Kilkivan, Tin Can Bay and a second Kandanga park have been flagged as part of that push.
The new parks would join six other free parks already running across Gympie, giving travellers a dozen choices.
The Gympie Times reports that:
While all of these blocks of land are owned by the council, there is concern in some quarters that the coastal RV park at Tin Can Bay will cause issues,
Councillor Jess Milne asked whether opening a free site near the coastal towns would take money away from tourism and accommodation operators at the coast.
“If we’re going to be putting a free camp in … my fear is it’s going to be very, very, very well utilised.”
She told the Gympie Times that this included risk of the site being misused by people staying well beyond a proposed 72-hour limit. She said the coast was already grappling with the issue of people trying whatever means to score free accommodation out there.
“We have a lot of unlawful camping issues out there,” Ms Milne said. “I’m more leaning towards having someone run an RV option … just to address some of those issues.”
Free RV parks are already open at Dickabram Park, Widgee, Kinbombi Falls, Chatsworth Park, Carters Ridge and Kandanga’s Paul Robeck Park.
The council’s RV strategy will be brought to a future meeting for councillors’ consideration.
The more the merrier we are a growing part of the community and the need is there to facilitate
That would be great even if it cost $5.00 a night brings money to the towns
The Gympie, Tin Can Bay Area is a great area to explore and people who have big rigs like us (truck and van ) 17.9 m can’t fit into the van parks.
Grey nomads in general support local business very well in most case’s
Generally grey nomads are clean, respectful and quiet. Whenever we utilise a free parkup area we make sure we suppot local business, eating out, fuel and groceries. Whenever we have to go to a CP because of the cost we eat in and will spend nothing in town
It’s great to see dump points being included in some of the proposed stops. Makes the ability to stay in the area longer more feasible.
Hi, could you please fill me in about where the park in Balkin Street Gunalda is going to be put please. As we have caravans pull up in the truck n caravan parking spot down from the hotel,but then move as the fall of the road is not level for the caravans,so they drive of over to across the road from the hall to level their caravans. Thank you.
Good on the council for being proactive in this area, it can only be good for local small business, many more people are traveling.as each year goes by.
Sound Idea, will bring more dollar spending caravaners into these areas.
Great idea, and we don’t mind paying $5 to stay there . What a great council. At least all businesses have a chance to share our dollars. I hope they go ahead with it.
Congratulations Gympie Council. Being able to free camp means I am able to spread my money in the community.
I think that if it’s a free park, they should be more regulated. a 20 hour stop over for quite a few becomes weeks and weeks of free parking. This is a fact at the Chatsworth Park. One night is fine, but don’t take revenue away from other parks, and don’t use ratepayers to constantly subsidise holiday makers.
Some people don’t seem to get it, caravanserais good not be looking for free or cheap camping parks if caravan park were not getting so expensive.
We only having so many $$$’s to go around with free or cheap camping we can put more dollars into small businesses in the area.