While many local authorities are finally coming around to the idea that offering free or budget camping can bring a range of economic benefits, it can still be a challenge to convince others in the local community.
And so it is in the New South Wales town of Orange. Orange City Council has proposed allowing camping at Gosling Creek Reserve and has put two possible plans on public exhibition. One will allow camping on the reserve’s southern side using facilities on the northern side, the other allowing camping in a designated area on the northern side of the reserve. Recreation Vehicle parking would be permitted in the car parks.
The Central West Daily newspaper reports that outraged locals have been holding protest rallies as they seek to see the plan scrapped. Opponents claim camping would damage the environment, scare off bird life, increase the amount of anti-social behaviour in the area, be a risk to children playing in the park, endanger the water supply, and allow people to have dogs in the area.
One resident Jane Wiesener said it was a family area that should be preserved.
“We think they should keep it as it is for the locals to enjoy,” she said. “Council should be proud of it the way it is. There is anti-social behaviour there now and free camping will just increase the undesirable behaviour.”
Another anti-camping-in-the-area campaigner, Bob Smith, said the reserve would not attract ‘high-end tourists’.
“Contrary to the tourism and economic benefits claimed I believe the major users of any caravan park and free camping facility would be some low-budget tourists, together with many itinerant and backpacker fruit pickers in town from about November to March,” he said. “In light of the projected $240,000 establishment cost and the annual ongoing running and maintenance cost, it would mean the council financial return would be literally non-existent.”
Mr Smith told the Central Western Daily that he was concerned campers would bring dogs and cats which would endanger the wildlife and birdlife.
“In researching RV/caravan users, it appears 22% of them travel with either a dog or a cat,” he said. “Can you imagine them arriving at Gosling Creek after a long road journey only to let their beloved pets out into this pristine reserve environment?”
However, Deputy mayor Sam Romano has re-iterated his support for camping at Gosling Creek.
“It’s great, I don’t know why it was left off before,” he told the Central Western Daily.
We have just spent 3 months on the road and free camped whenever possible. I can assure you that the areas were not trashed and no anti social activities observed as most campers are retired or families travelling around and are very well behaved. They are more likely to discourage anti social behaviour as most are retireries who have money to spend while in the area but for various reasons dont want to stay in caravans parks.All pets are kept on leads and in general they envirenment is respected. These sites dont attract working backpackers as they dont own the correct equipment for free camping. Council simply has to put a time limit on the camping. Caravan parks are where thieves and anti social behaviour occurs not in free camps in my experience.
Although Orange is a pretty city to visit its caravan and/or established camping areas aren’t that attractive. I don’t know what the problem is in the town but it needs to expand its horizons to attract more tourist dollars. I don’t know if free camping is the answer but encouraging the current facility owners (I think Council is one of them) to extend/expand the existing facilities could help.
gosling creek would be a better option than the cesspits of caravan parks in town,,short term self contained no problem
These ones complaining should get a caravan & see a bit of the country trying out free camping first before being so negative.
We have been through Orange twice this year with the caravan on and wont be doing it again. It just isn’t caravan friendly. Streets are hard to get through and we gave up trying to find a parking spot with the van.
i dont bother going to places that i am not welcome . will spend my money at places that appreciate the travelling public
IS it true that the Australian Constitution allows free camping to rest for 24 Hours?
Interesting that yesterdays article spoke highly about Kimba and the benefits to their community and then we read about Orange. if the only people who benefit from caravan parks are the caravan park owners, I’ll keep driving. Kimba, you get my vote and dollar. Orange, you’re out. Along with other communities with narrow minds.
We have been living on the road now for 3.5 years from the Gold Coast with a camper trailer and our little maltese dog. We only do free camping. We have now been in WA for six months or so and we travel to find the Free Camping. WA is not RV/camper friendly state in many parts, but we go to a town to stock up on supplies. We are not self contained, but have three toilet cassettes, hot water facilities, 200l water tank, we collect water in 250l portable tanks when it rains.
We leave NO trace from our camp site. Yes copious travellers use many rest areas as “toilets” leaving paper strewn around in some form.
We spend significant dollars in any area we visit and do like the smaller towns for ease of access.
Orange is a very picturesque township and if one reads between the lines, most of the local community do not visit the Gosling Creek reserve. Retirees should not have to have a limit on staying times either!
We need positives in this world and Orange Council are doing something positive!!!
Hello Gay and Barry, how funny to read your post! We wholeheartedly agree. Free camping benefits all, it also keeos out fersl visitors.
Lol “pristine reserve environment”. Its a munted old paddock with a bit of regeneration and a lot of weeds.
We generally use low cost sites. Orange is a great town with lots to offer. We would have loved to stay over a couple of days, instead we parked at the info centre walked for and hour on Byng street only, had a coffee and snack at Byng street cafe and left. Why not make it easier to stay and spend our normal outgoings in your beautiful town. PS Mortimer wine was pretty good on the way out too.:)
Orange I have already forgotten that it even exists
Who cares about Orange there are many towns who want our dollar and offer areas to park for a few days. By Orange
Sour oranges there
Too bad
Move on to friendly RV towns
Orange is a lovely little town to visit so sad that it is out for me I don’t like selfish people in the town Orange is out for me. plenty of free camps near by.
Ross And Barb
They should adopt the West Australian & South Australian use of Camp Ground Hosts, who would manage the area, collect fees, keep ablution blocks clean & stocked. These hosts are generally volunteers who have gone through some training, they spend a few weeks at a site then move on to the next one. All the places we stayed at were very clean, tidy & well managed. The hosts are supported by council or parks rangers who did the heavy work. It also keeps out or controls the riff raff.
I agree with the locals keep the freeloaders with their cats and dogs out. Orange is a nice area with a thriving local economy it doesn’t need tourists.
Well with people like Peter in favour of Orange and only its locals it sounds like they don’t need any extra money for there shop holders so you may as well put a sign up on the edge of town and say “no tourists welcome”
Orange is the new Black??
We are, and have met many others at freedom-of-choice campgrounds very comfortable financially; not ‘low-budget tourists’. When we encounter those who are abusing facilities provided it is not unknown for us to confront those people and explain the error of their ways – ensuring they cease and make good before they leave. Our vehicle is COMPLETELY self-contained and we camp as per the Leave No Trace Guidelines. Locals Bob and Jane should be careful making negative unfavourable comments about the travellers likely to frequent such a camp site. We choose freedom-of-choice rest stops and camp grounds because we don’t like being told when/where to set up, don’t want pancake Wednesday or jumping pillows (or whatever) or having our trailer (towed behind our motorhome) broken into and relieved of goods for which we have worked damn hard for all our lives. There are more good people at these sites than you are likely to find in a commercial caravan park – so do your research!
Iwill b driving east again in feb 2019 from busso looks like Orange will b given abypass again cheers