Darwin looks set to crack down hard on free campers who park up for the night in city streets or car parks. The Northern Territory News reports that Darwin council would like to introduce clamping of tyres and towing of vehicles that stay illegally across the city.
“We know from experience we are not getting enough traction from fines,” the Lord Mayor Katrina Fong Lim told the NT News. “We are looking at harsher penalties to try and change the behaviour of backpackers – everybody is fed up with it.”
While the high numbers of backpackers living out of cars or small vans appears to be the main target of the new push for tougher action, some budget-minded grey nomads will inevitably be affected.
Darwin City Council has said it also wants the power to chase illegal campers to their home countries to recover unpaid fines … even though this would require a change in Commonwealth legislation. The council has found only 30% of fines against backpackers sleeping in vans are paid as the Fines Recovery Unit can’t recover fines once the alleged offender has left Australia.
“This activity destroys the amenity of our public open spaces, creates littering issues, undermines the accommodation industry and is not tolerated by the local residents,” read the agenda for a recent council meeting. “The overwhelming view is that illegal vehicle-based camping is not tolerated by residents and businesses … this is a regular source of public anger and complaint to council.”
After talking to free campers who complained about the high cost of camping in Darwin, the NT News says it conducted its own research and found the average cost for seven nights at a camping ground in Darwin and surrounds was $331 for a powered site.
The NT News reports the cost of a Top End caravan park powered site per week were:
However, the mayor insists the cost of accommodation is not the council’s problem.
“We don’t have control over what camping people charge,” Ms Fong Lim said. “If you visit our great city make sure you have enough money to pay for it.”
Is the mayor right? Should people who can’t afford to stay in caravan parks simply stay at home? Where do you stay when you visit Darwin? Comment below.
The mayor said it all. If you can’t afford it, don’t come. In other words, if you’re a pensioner, peace off. Sounds like a charming lady.
I think the mayor said it all , at that price , I wouldn’t go , I free camp mostly and if there is not a free camp site , I just don’t go, no see , no loss
We have been to Darwin several times and stayed in caravan parks only as we have not been able to find a suitable place to park the caravan while visiting attractions in the city.We free camp most of the time but we have not found anywhere near Darwin city.
We feel for the other vanners as we watch them drive their rigs around and around hoping to find a suitable park close to the city.
Darwin City has a lot to offer but does not cater for caravan parking at all much less somewhere to camp.
I am guessing that the real issue is with the backpackers and not so much with the caravanners.
Receiving less than $300pw on my pension, & $350pw for a powered site quoted in Darwin, (I don’t know the season rate quoted), sort of leaves me a little short for some other necessities of life, like food.
Gee whiz Darwin, talk about making us grey nomads feel welcome! The average pensioner couple don’t receive enough per week to be able to afford such ridiculous prices which is why most of us choose to free camp where possible. Research will show you that where free camps or suitably priced parks are available we tend to spend more money at the businesses in those towns. Most of us are self sufficient ie: don’t need power everyday and carry our own water. Money spent on paying for a place to park your van or motorhome means there is little left to spend in town. The Northern Territory has been a favoured place for many of us during the colder months and no doubt there are many who have read this article who will opt for a more welcoming and friendly place to spend their winter this year. Wake up Darwin.
Ms Fong Lim obviously does not travel on a pension.
So!! Darwin doesn’t want visitors without plenty to spend, unless they spend it in a caravan park……….
Bo doubt with supermarkets and clothing stores in Darwin, they’ll want visitors to arrive hungry and nude next so the council can compel them where to spend their money!
Well, the City of Darwin’s current stance on illegal vehicle based campers has certainly created a stir on this and other forums. I apologise if anyone was offended by my comments. Obviously I was not commenting on the Grey Nomad industry most of whom are law abiding budget travellers. Our problem lays with a group of travellers who think nothing of breaking into our powerboxes to steal power, leave litter in our parks and do their washing in our public toilets (I guess it is good that they wash). I also recognise that there is a high cost of living here in our beautiful city. We have the highest rents and the highest petrol costs. Strangely, a few years ago we did have the cheapest sausages. The problem is, this Council does not have the resources to take on the industry and provide alternative sites. We are told quite regularly from the cvan park owners and ratepayers that they do not want us to go into business offering alternative sites, so the only action left to us is fines. I am hoping that there will be a community or private response to this problem. Lots of people say to us, just find a bit of land, put in some showers and toilets and charge a nominal fee. Sounds simple? If you ask the offenders though, they are not looking for just cheap camping, they are looking for cheap camping with a wonderful view, close to the city (premium open space) and to be able to party all night. This of course, would not suit budet travellers like yourselves who are looking for peaceful enjoyment. So whatever we do we will not be able to please everyone. I hope this clarifies the “rock and a hard wall” place the Council finds itself in. Travel safe.
Well Madam Mayor, you certainly put your foot into that one. Just a little thought before launching into such a derogitary public outburst would have saved Darwin revenue possibly in excess of your salary, I think.
I am on my way to Darwin in my van for a 2 week job. I googled to find “cheap or free camping near Darwin” and my first introduction to you fair city is your rather appalling outburst, followed quickly by the realisation that 1/4 of my nett salary will go towards paying for a piece of grass and a daily shower. Add the cost of fuel for getting up and back and I see Darwin will be a waste of time for me. I really think your rate-payers would be better served by some community consultation and creating thinking rather than this shoot from the hip approach. Simply unprofessional in my humble view. Thank you.
we had our plans made to go to Darwin for this winter , but after reading
such a pathetic attitude to us caravaners with prices unexceptable
we,ll take our money to Queensland . They also might take note to not
reak the backlash and be stupid regarding there outlook towards us visitors.
the backlash of stupidity
We were heading to Darwin but after reading this and doing some more research we have decided not to. Will stay in Qld then wander back through NSW.
Welcome to Darwin, but not if you’re poor. Have been searching for affordable campsites within cooee of city but seems $300ish pw BEFORE food etc. is the norm. That’s a lot for a shower & a few square meters of grass. The mayors comments are insensitive and insulting to law abiding campers.
We are younger people (39y/o’s) travelling Australia with our two little kids, 5 and 7 to show them our wonderful country and help out small country towns by spending our money in them locally. While we are happy to stay in caravan parks from time to time,we prefer to stay longer in more out of the way camps, or different places like sports grounds etc, and after looking at the exorbitant caravan park prices around Darwin we certainly wouldn’t want to spend the year paying that! Why can’t they open up some sports grounds or show grounds nearby for reasonable rates like the rest of the country? It will benefit all, more money for the sports societies, a job for a caretaker and money to splash around town.
We are heading to Darwin soon, and to have our kids join us puts the price up significantly than just the couple price. These are the prices I looked at from a few:
2 people, basic powered site for small caravan, 2 kids:
Howard Springs Big 4 $65 p/n $455 week
Coolalinga CVPark $50 p/n $350 week
Oasis CVPark $43 p/n $301 week
Lee Point Village Resort $65 p/n $310 week
Because they have no budget option, instead of us staying there a couple of months, spending money in their tourist attractions and supermarkets etc. it will make us just want to have a look for a few days, and move on somewhere more welcoming!
Rachael.
I was absolutely outraged when myself and my girlfriend came to darwin in our van arriving in the early hours of the morning and jump into the back and receive a penalty. We had a lot of money to bring to darwin not only in local shops but also in tourist activities. This penalty has restricted the distribution of our funds to the city. Alongside this, it is naive to summarise all backpackers as ‘littering’ and any form of causing trouble. All the backpackers i have met always clean up after themselves and keep quiet at night so not to disturb anyone else. Its just a pathetic way to raise money by forcing people who have very little money to pay for falling asleep in their vans .. hardly the crime of the century. Goodbye darwin you brought me nothing but dislike with your stupid rules.
Ive travelled fron Perth to Darwin.most towns cashing in on tourist boom
Either in money they spen in Coles an petrol stations,as well as cheap labour for local business.a few caravan parks offer reasonable rates for campers.if counsels were to have say 20dollars nite permit in there car parks they would make a killing campers happy concil getting shit load revenue greedy park owners unhappy watch there prices come down.tourist go back home saying how great Australia is encouraging more to come an see.isnt that why we spend so much money advertising overseas.wake up an smell the roses
Why cant these people stay at the show grounds for a reasonable price. Other places value the grey nomads and have seen hundreds of vans in show grounds ( $15 per night ) and realise the money spent in the towns. The Caravan Parks charges are far too high for very little in return. Wake up Darwin council or you will be bypassed like so many other places because of either not enough accommodation or too expensive for the average pensioner.
Our small community belonging to Tamworth Regional Council is being forced by council to provide a free campsite adjacent to our caravan park. This caravan park is also the town’s (including outlying communities) only fuel supplier. As a result of council’s refusal to listen to our community, the owners of the caravan park have decided to close up. Our town is now left without fuel but this is something we cannot blame the caravan park for. They have endured enough!
Our community is not apposed to free camping, but we do not believe it should ever be directly alongside an existing like entity. Some councils get it right and ensure that the free camping has minimal environmental impact, and also locate it in an area that is not urban.
We don’t have much in our town, and the money isn’t spent here by free campers. We don’t blame them – really there is not much here! The money is spent in Tamworth but since council doesn’t want campers under their nose, they just decided to put them in our town.
So we now have plenty of campers in the middle of our beautiful town directly emptying their grey water waste into our once pristine river. I know this is not the practice of all campers, but we have seen enough of it to raise concerns for our environment. I mean really, this is where our children swim (or used to). To add insult to injury, council told our community that we are simply too far out of Tamworth for it to be spending resources on a ranger to monitor free camping, and it will be there whether we like it or not.
Tamworth Regional Council has it wrong on so many levels, and the only legacy they will leave behind is a ghost town. Shame on TRC!
I think it should be pointed out that much of the information in Lyn’s post is now out of date. For a long time there was a battle between the caravan park and the council over freedom camping but the park has recently changed owners with a new attitude to freedom camping and to attracting clientele and from what I am hearing the situation is now much more amicable, the park is thriving and the fuel supply is continuing. In fact I hear that people are going out of their way to enjoy the town so I guess everyone benefits.
at the end of the stuart highway we have a beautiful city with a dumb government.i think the caravan park owners must be on the council.wake up darwinians it is our city too
I have been told by a local that one particular gentleman in government has a stake in the hotel businesses.
WELL talk about it !! We will not pay $50 a night to stay in a Darwin CVP especially when we are not welcome – we will head off overseas instead of our planned trip North 2015 – make sure all caravaners pass this news on to all fellow caravaners. We will see who has the last laugh. Write to letters in to your local newspaper & tell everyone!!
, i was considering going to darwin to work , maybe not the best idea,,
i really wander why land prices have to be so expensive when there is such a huge amount surrounding,, its minblowing stupid this realestate greed that flows on and effects so many people ,, in so many ways.
even meeting ones basic needs food and shelter.
Sad, Darwin will be one place I will never see. What is forgotten here is the cost of getting there only to be slugged with a min $300 p/w to camp. Get real, why would I spend hundreds on fuel to go to an elitist overpriced city where you can’t even swim in the ocean. Always wanted to get there, what a horrible attitude by your local council. I agree the caravan park owners must be on the council. Go south people Tessie has the best climate, and plenty of free camping provided by councils, free I mean $5 / $7 p/n GO SOUTH you might never leave.
Once the city realises accommodating campers is essential to long term tourism ie: when other resources move on like mining etc then they will change there tune.
Jan 2015-Rates for Malak & KOA – 1-2 persons is $300.00pw + pwr
Less than 7 day stay 1-2 persons is $55.00 pn with pwr inc in cost.
KOA & Malak caters mostly for caravans – providing ensuites to each site. These ensuites are all Solar powered.
KOA has a section which is pet friendly & allows stays of 8/52, giving all travellers with pets a chance to cycle through this section, also the boundaries are not limiting so if sites permit no one is turned away. Pet minding referals may be obtained in the office.
I am heading for Darwin and the reviews on Wikicamps and here are enough to put me off coming and spending my money there at least close to town. This growing reality does not seem to bother the major. Obviously business is good in Darwin and they care if much the huge grey nomad brigade is turned away. Because despite what the major says, this will be the result.
It is clear from the Wikicamps feedback thar the quality of many of the caravan parks is lacking and the customer service is a shocker. I am wondering if it could be the case that there mat be some monopolistic practies or collusion between owners because competition usually fixes these problems. Needs some good investigative journalism here I reckon, go 4 Corners!
We have travelled to Darwin from SA. Rang several caravan Parks and were told “sorry haven’t got a site big enough for your caravan. ” our van is our home. It is 35ft outside measurement. We then drove to Beatrice Hill to stay for the night. Now we have to drive back to Darwin to go to the bank and pick up our mail, as today is Sunday.
We couldn’t afford to stay in the caravan park for long, as their rates are exorbitant, and we’re only on pensions. Wake up Darwin!!! We were going to spend money here, but not now!!!
Darwin seems to be a place where FREE camping is frowned upon. Don’t they realize that Grey Nomads spend more than most, but we don’t like to be ripped off by exorbitant caravan park prices. Most of us are completely self sufficient, apart from needing to top up our water tanks once in a while. We don’t need power, as we have solar panels, and the prices charged by Darwin caravan parks have a one size fits all mentality. Cater for the Grey Nomads – we are your bread and butter, people.
However, if you keep up this sort of mentality, you will succeed in turning away the Grey Nomads for good. Darwin is NOT a RV friendly place.
Darwin is not a R V friendly place, when most caravan parks charge fro $40.0 to $55.0 per night, we only use a little water & power.
Won’t be back, as there are not many places to park & see all there is to see