Another Tasmanian free camping spot looks set to start charging grey nomads and other travellers for overnight stays.
The Kentish Council has been recommended to seek a new operator for the Railton Self-contained RV Overnight Parking Area.
And the indications are that the operator would be required to charge $10 per site per night.
“It is expected that a number of local groups may lodge a satisfactory Expression of Interest that demonstrate a capacity and expertise to operate the site in addition to having the relevant insurance coverage,” the report read.
Kentish mayor Tim Wilson told the Advocate newspaper that the item would be brought to the table at tonight’s council meeting.
“I’m sure the council will have questions,” Cr Wilson said. “I reckon one of those questions will be on the pricing.”
The site located as part of the Railway Park Extension, Esplanade Railton has approximately 16 spots available for free camping and/or motorhomes.
Earlier this year, two other Kentish camping spots had to double their fees to $10 in response to a competitive neutrality complaint.
The report in September’s council agenda said should the council elect to continue to maintain the site as free camping it could be prone to further complaints.
Cr Wilson told the Advocate that there had been no ‘mad rush’ to change the cost to camping sooner.
“We wanted to speak with the Railton residents,” he said.
The Advocate reports that feedback had been sought on the issue during a recent community meeting.
All depends on facilities provided
If they start charging, I reckon a toilet facility should be provided
You could always stay at the cmca joint next door. $15 for non members and even less facilities
Incorrect, there are no facilities at the free camp except a finess park and a dump point while the cmca park also has a dump point and a custodian on site for security.
I have stayed at Railton many times and considering you don’t have any facilities very limited shopping a train roaring through in the middle of the night how can they charge for really nothing.
Obviously YOU value the facilities provided or you wouldn’t stay there.
Guess you didn’t notice the neat gravelled area, the dump point, the exercise equipment, the potable water tap, the mown grassed area, shade shelter, garbage bins, trees and shrub windbreaks, and cute park next door. Aren’t they “facilities” or were you looking for a jumping castle and washing machine.
If you want a good comparison, have a look at the private paid site just east of town. 10 dollars per night, on the side of a steep ish hill or in a bog down the back, no facilities at all except water and the train down the back.
Competitive neutrality shouldn’t apply because there are no commercial caravan parks in town, but regardless, someone has to pay for it and $10 is not unreasonable
I totally agree…also stayed there a couple of times..
I would rather pay to have clean facilities, all good.
Thats the end for me. I am happy to pay more for good facilities but this is simply a cash grab.
Define “good facilities”
Or do you really mean you are entitled to sponge on the local community and give nothing back
And what is wrong with just raising some funds. Why are so many grey nomads tight arses about paying a small fee to help support the often very small and poor local communities that you choose to stay in around the country.
You drive around in your $120,000 Landcruiser’s with a huge $100,000 plus caravans with every luxury you cant think of and you still complain about the facilities that you don’t need and are to expensive to put in and maintain.
You are not entitled to everything free just because u are retired now. Just help pay a little and stop complaining all the time. To many people are using these free camps and they just cant cope with demand on any infrastructure there may be in 2022.
$10,00 is still cheaper than a caravan park, most travellers these days have self contained vans so that you are able to stop at places like these. We have that same in our town, where the locale soccer club collect the $10.00 for there juniors, does not stop anyone stopping there. If you want to travel to these places $10.00 is cheap. You all need to stop whinging about cost and stop bludging on town and amenities.
Totally agree.
Whatever has become of the phrase “free camping”? Just don’t go there.
No such thing as free anything is there.
What people really mean is they have an inflated sense of entitlement to sponge on others.
The location of free camping sites is part of why you stop there, $10. Is not a lot to pay when you know that CP charge exorbinant prices just because it is school holidays, longweekends, a popular location, however , if the charge of $10 is applied, the area must be clean, bins emptied, water on tap. and a limit on nights u can stay would be acceptable so we all can enjoy.
Railton site ticks all your boxes then. Add dump point, safe gravelled area, grassed section, plenty of bins and nice surroundings and I think we get our money’s worth.
Of course free suits me better but…
What about c/p putting cabins on their sites and closing down motel business.regardless of what they change i will not use c/parks
The big attraction in travelling Tas is the cost of the ferry fair is offset by the free and low cost camping. In Railton the topiary is great but it is the only attraction for the very small town, an hour and it’s done. I’ve stayed at the free camp it has limited facilities and a train line running directly behind it. While I was there I topped at the tank, had lunch and coffee at the local shop and dinner at the RSL, if there is a donation box I always make a contribution however if it was to start charging a fee I think I would stop to look at the topiary but doubt I stay the night which would be a shame for the already struggling town.
We took our caravan to Tasmania a few years ago. We stayed for three months. Our van is fully self contained, so we stayed in as many free camping areas as possible. We thought it was great, as it compensated for the $2000+ to get us, vehicle and van over. We only had the seats. Our thoughts were, rather than spend money on accommodation – that we already have, we spent it on tours and other ways. We still spent loads of extra money. The free, or very cheep road side stops, made it affordable to go to Tasmania. We were thinking of returning for another lengthy stay in Tasmania, but I will certainly be doing my homework first. People are still spending money on other things. There are those who will always stay in caravan parks and those who wont. You force people to pay and they won’t come.
I have stayed at Railton many times while touring Tassie and my van is self contained. Found the Fee camp very clean with WATER on tap and a Free DUMP POINT. The trains during the night was not an issue. Paying $10.00 a night for these services is worth it.
We stayed at Rail ton free camp in 2017 just before CMCA site opened.. We had a good meal at the adjacent hotel and spent a few dollars in town. We were grateful for the firm, flat sites and the train didn’t worry us. Toilets would be a plus, at a cost.. We would consider $10 as part of our support for an RV friendly and pleasant town
We spent 3 months in Tassie, the free camps offset the cost of getting if we had paid it would have added $1000 to the cost, our average spend for the 3 months was $680 per week that is all going into the local economy.