A council in NSW’s far north-west is pressing ahead with a change to the rules at its campgrounds … which could be seen as both good news and bad news for grey nomads.
The good news is that Walgett Shire says the amount of time that visitors can stay at the Collarenebri Campground, Burren Junction Bore Bath Campground, and Alex Trevallion Park Campground is being raised to seven days … and in its latest council meeting it was confirmed that new signage is being manufactured to reflect that change.
The bad news for those staying at the previously free sites is that a fee of $10 per night will now apply at each campground.
Grey nomads travelling in Outback NSW can now stay longer at some campsites. PIC: Mazza
The original decision was made back in July when Mayor Jasen Ramien said the adjustments would provide greater flexibility for travellers, while helping the council maintain the facilities.
“These campgrounds are valued by visitors and are also important assets for our local communities,” he said. “The modest nightly fee will assist council with the ongoing cost of maintaining the facilities and ensuring they remain clean, accessible and available for future visitors.”
Mayor Ramien said extending the maximum stay from the existing arrangements to seven nights would particularly benefit people travelling with caravans, recreational vehicles and camping equipment.
“Two or three nights is often not enough time for visitors to properly experience our communities,” he said. “A seven-night stay gives people the opportunity to slow down, visit local attractions, purchase fuel and supplies, enjoy local businesses and spend more time in the wider district.”
The mayor said the longer stay represented a reasonable balance, giving visitors greater flexibility while ensuring the campgrounds continued to operate as short-term visitor accommodation.
“We know how important these facilities are to Collarenebri, Burren Junction, Lightning Ridge and the broader Walgett Shire community,” Mayor Ramien said. “This decision is about welcoming visitors, supporting our local towns and ensuring council can continue to look after these facilities properly … we encourage travellers to stay a little longer, explore our communities and enjoy the hospitality that Walgett Shire has to offer.”
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