Caravans and motorhomes stopping at a popular RV rest area in WA’s Goldfields will now be allowed to stay 72 hours … instead of the previous 24.
The City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder is to trial the new arrangement at the Centennial Park RV rest stop area for a year in the hopes it will ‘alleviate the accommodation demands but also to ensure visitors (stay) here for as long as possible’.
The Kalgoorlie Miner reports that, together with the Lake Douglas 72-hour rest stop, the extension will allow grey nomads and other travellers in self-contained RVs to stay in the area for up to six days at no cost.
Using monthly consultation with local caravan operators and weekly survey data from the Kalgoorlie-Boulder Visitor Centre, it was established that there had been limited vacancy at caravan sites, with tourists rarely able to book consecutive days.
Lots of adventure-loving grey nomads are on the road to Kalgoorlie-Boulder.
The City said it had learnt operators were hesitant to offer overflow options because of staff shortages affecting their ability to service current customer needs.
The Kalgoorlie Miner reports that City Mayor John Bowler said visitors staying longer positively affected the local economy, ‘with visitors likely to spend at local cafes, restaurants, retail outlets, car and vehicle maintenance or repairs workshops and more’.
“Extending the rest stop at Centennial Park is what is needed right now, not just to alleviate the accommodation demands but also to ensure we are keeping visitors here for as long as possible,” he said. “The City is continuously reviewing what we can do to support tourism, and this extension comes at a key period for travel.”
Existing regulations for the rest stop area remain in place, including the requirement for vehicles to be fully self-contained, pets must be on a leash at all times, no clothing is to be hung externally to dry, and those staying must comply with general ‘leave no trace’ principles.
Feedback from previous travellers confirmed many would have considered staying longer in if the RV rest stop area time period was extended.
However, Discovery Parks chief executive Grant Wilckens, told the Kalgoorlie Miner that the extension was ‘only a band-aid solution’.
He said the underlying problems of a lack of new development to accommodate peak demand, including the increasing need for more workforce accommodation, would persist.
“With travellers now spending up to three days in the region as opposed to an overnight stop, there is a need for stronger enforcement of regulations to ensure visitors aren’t dumping waste or grey water, or utilising services at our parks that are provided for paying guests,” he said. “We’re hopeful the council will continue to check in with us during the trial but, more importantly, we’re looking at City officials to recognise and resolve the ongoing challenges around a lack of new development in the region.”
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There are always those that stay longer, usually leading to a site being restricted so it’s good to see one’s hours extended. But the council needs to monitor it and enforce the times. I think 48hrs would be a better time frame.
Best idea yet. We had to move out of town as not able to get a site in a park and then come back again to see everything we wanted to. We would have stayed longer.
A loss for the towns.
SW WA very unwelcoming unless you stay in a caravan park, I left the region.
It’s sad that you would not visit a beautiful region because of a lack of free camps. It’s mind boggling that some travellers are not prepared to support caravan parks if there is no free camping available.
In WA try booking a caravan park site for more than 2 days in peak season. That is why we free camp mostly and only go into van parks if absolutely needed and we are prepared to pay the huge prices WA parks charge..
We spent several weeks in south West WA and not once did we stay in anything other than a free camp so we didn’t find it unwelcoming. Of course there wasn’t a single free camp to be found anywhere in the Perth CBD or in Margaret River but my innate sense of entitlement doesn’t extend quite that far.
Stayed a night at Lake Douglas, road in ordinary
spent the next day at Kalgoorlie, visited the museum, lunch, big pit, then went to Kambalda RV area that night. Caravan park owners need to realise that not all travelers want to be crammed in like sardines and pay a high price, there’s plenty to go round. After traveling WA they have done a fantastic job accommadating the travelers with their rest stops. Best by far in Oz. Well done.
The main problem is people staying a lot longer than 24 hours (or 72) and no one enforcing the timeframe. Seems to be a lot who regularly overstay, and rest stops remain full…..
From our annual trips and experience WA has the best roads, rest side stops more regular toilets and bins of any state – well done – from two happy Tassie travellers
We stayed the meagre one night allowed by council, spent $2000 on tyres and then went back to Koolgardie which isn’t very exciting, but at least made us welcome. If we hadn’t needed tyres, we would have bypassed Kalgoorlie completely. Norseman too was very welcoming and is currently spending a heap of money on new facilities for travellers.
I agree Norsemen was a really interesting and welcoming town fantastic supermarket, great place to stock up on supplies and a big range of all sorts of equipment.
Yes it’s happening every where since COVID we have seen more vans less space and not many free camps so we move on . Totally support long stays David and Vanessa
The areas are for REST and OVERNITE only , some people take advantage, these areas are a must for the break which is needed every 2 to 3 hours of driving.
Stayed a few days in Peterborough SA spent 3 nights in local cp, and after that spent 3 days in RV park run by council.
The council has a letter box to collect evidence from the users of the RV park which is 72 hour time limit of reciepts of purchases made in the town.
Speaking to a local councilor, he indicated that it was to counter opposition to the facility .
A very progressive town with lots of attractions to fill a week’s worth.
Just spent 72 hours there again, which I did when I went to Broken Hill. Happy to spend money in a town like Peterborough that makes you welcome and does not force you to patronise a caravan park
Yes, definitely, more than 24 hours is needed in Kalgoorlie and surrounds. As has been said already, there is more than just the super pit to see in Kalgoorlie and 24 hours in the towns free camp is not enough. We also had to leave and come back the next day to see places. Please council recognize the need for a couple of days. My Husband and I spent quite a bit of money in the town.
With all the uncertainly of Covid restrictions flowing from various state governments between 2020 and 2022 when we had issues even returning to WA before the borders were closed, despite having all the required passes etc and as a result, we stayed home during 2022 but we normally travel from late Jan till around Oct each year travelling th entire country, staying in many places along the way, many caravan parks, many of which are good but sadly, as time moves on and things get tighter, many are no longer attractive to us because the standards of cleaning and maintenance are sliding while the prices keep rising although we do find some parks where we stay for a few weeks at a time are ok, but very expensive for what you get.
While the idea of extending the times travellers can stay in free camps is great in some ways, it’s a bit of a disaster in others as the numbers of mainly younger people, many of whom are not Australian and appear to be back packers are starting to well and truly abuse the system, no matter how many hours or days the limits may be with no checking done by local councils, especially in the more remote places, the way many of these people live and abuse the privilege of being able to enjoy the bush is astonishing, by dumping their rubbish in the open, (in many cases because the bins, if there are any, haven’t been emptied for weeks) or even longer but that is no excuse for the emptying of tollet casettes behind a bush or leaving toilet paper to blow everywhere and not even burying their own waste which, in the end, ensures more and more roadside stops are closed off. Many of the ruck drivers are just as bad with truck tyres dumped, oil drums and filters just thrown on the ground along with the oil itself that is simply drained onto the ground and of course, the seemingly obligatory toilet paper and many of these drivers don’t stay in the designated truck stops either, probably so it’s less likely they will be seen ‘servicing’ their trucks. This no doubt sounds like a general whinge, which in some ways it is but it also shows how, by the actions of far too many people are making travelling less enjoyable, but not too much from the older retirees who love to tow our caravns around Australia and who were brought up with standards and respect for our country, unlike some of the younger people of today, sadly. Maybe local councils might find some way to ensure that what rules there are are actually followed because unless some control is in place, extending, shortening or altering stay times in any way is meaningless becasue too many people simply ignore them because that’s Australia today.
Yes I do think that most rv rest stops ought to be open for at least 72 hours and up to 7 days, I know when I get to stay in a freedom camp in a town area I always put money into the town with fuel, food, cuppa etc. Great to see some councils thinking outside of the box, caravan parks are not suffering as they are mostly booked out and have out priced themselves.
You have to be joking with 7 days. So those who abuse the system could be camping for 10 days or even two weeks. ‘User pays’ is a phrase we are all familiar with but still some expect things for free. There is a cost to offering rest side stops and free camps and this is paid for by local communities. Further, support local businesses with no conditions attached, whether there is a free camp in the town or not. Many of the businesses are family owned who provide an essential service to the local community and travellers.
I live rural and hate being crammed in with people watching your every move. CP’s are a nightmare for people like me. Free camping isn’t taking away money from cp owners, because we weren’t going there anyway. Still spending money in all the towns. Just spent close to $1000 in Esperance.
24 hrs is not long enough to tour a locality so 72 hrs is reasonable,as long as it is monitored. Free camps allow us to spend in the local community and view the attractions. I object to caravan parks that believe we should only stay with them. We spend our funds in the communities that welcome us with low cost alternatives such as Showgrounds and the Freecamps
24 hours free loading is enough. We have never had an issue getting into a kalgoorlie caravan park. I have found free loaders want free dump points etc but spend very little locally and are just trying to get e free camp everywhere
When will coastal towns in WA realise that not all grey nomads have big $$ to spend on 24hr stop overs – and now since “COVID” ALL costs have almost doubled – Nat parks were $7.50 per site per night NOW $ 22 per site for nothing extra ( no showers and only drop toilets ) Sooner than later most shires will be screaming for travellers to visit their town? ( Small in land country towns offer 3 nights free and so we will be there and spend in their town so to keep them going )
Rest areas need at least 72 hours if any town really want the travellers to spend money in their town
If the towns are serious about getting travellers to share the $s around, then make it a 72 hour MINIMUM stay. Freeloaders drop in overnight, those of us who hang around tend to spend around too.
Interesting that “Discovery Parks chief executive Grant Wilckens” is calling “for stronger enforcement of regulations to ensure visitors aren’t dumping waste or grey water,” given that last time I patronised caravan parks some years ago, the majority were allowing and even encouraging patrons to run their grey water straight onto the ground.
All free camping should exceed 24 hours. You arrive late in the day(night 1) You explore the local area and get supplies etc (night 2) You have a rest day (night3). 24 hours is not enough. You need 3 nights at least.
Totally agree.
72 hours is really 2 days. We are staying at Centennial Park Kalgoorlie after staying 2 nights at the Discovery Park where we could not get another night. It was packed and it has quite a few permanent residents and accommodation for workers. We have already spent several hundred dollars on food , fuel, cafes, tours and bits and pieces . The Ranger comes around daily and checks everyone is doing the right thing. Caravan Parks are not the only businesses to consider. The more spent on CP for a piece of dirt to park your own accommodation, the less you have available for other businesses. Norseman is great and sensibly you can buy water for a token amount $2 for 60 litres. Again we spent plenty of money in town. In Southern Cross we parked opposite the Railway Pub. Oodles of room and we had one of the best night with other travellers. The publicans really appreciated our patronage. Fantastic pizzas. Ravensthorpe on the other hand have an RV camp for SCV but grey water tanks must be integrated into the RV. Ranger checks and those who don’t comply are fined $125. It is a pretty town but the supermarket was empty and only the Roadhouse was open for food after 1pm. Meckering have few places to spend money and yet they generously provide a great overnight stop. Kimba SA has set the benchmark for excellence. Again we spent money supporting several local businesses..Some caravan parks like Coogee Beach WA and Emerald Beach NSW have terrible access to sites. We love showgrounds as well but they’re basically non existent in WA .