While there are no shortage of grey nomads who are ‘sceptical’ about the need for caravan park fees to be as high as they are, sometimes the shoe is sort of on the other foot.
And so it is in a small town south of Perth in Western Australia where the owners of the Pinjarra Caravan Park are crying foul over a 12.7% rates hike that they didn’t see coming.
Oliver and Tracey Gillbard told the Mandurah Mail newspaper that the Shire of Murray had announced earlier that local rates would go up on average by a more modest 4.1%. Instead, this July’s unexpectedly high $26,000 rates bill has apparently put a strain on the caravan park’s finances, and forced the couple to cut staff.
The hike comes at a time when Pinjarra businesses are struggling in general, and tourist numbers are down.
“We are on a shoestring budget now to run our business,” the Gillbards told the Mandurah Mail. “So for the council to be doing this and putting the rates up so much knowing that everyone’s income is down … it’s unconscionable really.”
However, Shire of Murray chief Dean Unsworth said rates varied significantly across the district due to the revaluations on properties’ Gross Rental Values (GRV) and Unimproved Values. He said fluctuations were generally consistent across the district, as the GRV was only reassessed every fourth year.
“This increase is reflective of the funding necessary to ensure the community’s needs are met and to secure the district’s growth and prosperity for the future,” he said. “The revaluations this year however resulted in an average 4.1% effect across the shire.”
It’s crazy, they drive people away. As many of us are on a budget we will look to go somewhere cheaper.Everyone has to buy food & fuel so the town misses out.
Well, we stayed for one week recently at Big 4 Foster. $45.00 per night less 10% membership discount. Very cramped, busy, mosquito infected place. Overpriced. Little control over the weekend crowds. Park ran out of gas for 2 nights equals no hot showers. Enjoyed stay with friends but ….we will not return. Expect better from Big 4.
And now this park will raise their tariff so that they can pay the rates which will mean LESS visitors due to high cost which means less tourist dollar for the town which means less money for council which means business close which means unemployment ALL because somebody got greedy. Wake up councils all around Australia.
Council stupidity. How to drive away customers. They will be worse off once people go elsewhere to spend their money. Fools.
No sympathy, Caravan Parks like any business need to constantly adjust their business models to cater for price increases and business downturns. Unfortunately most caravan parks still run on 1960’s style models and need to come out of the dark ages and adjust their models to reflect the current times. They need to cater for budget conscious travelers and perhaps offering some cheap no frills sites could be all they need to turn things around.
A great idea Steve, as long as it is it isn’t next to the fish offal bin or similar. ( this happened to us once, what a stench! We are fisher people but this was bad!)
Council will destroy local business.