The NSW Government is being pressed to release its eagerly-anticipated report on national parks camping fees and to announce whether prices will be capped.
Public consultation on a new camping fee structure for the state’s national parks was undertaken in April last year, but a report summarising that feedback has yet to be published.
It is understood that more than 23,000 submissions were received.
When quizzed at a recent Budget estimates hearing, Minister Penny Sharpe would not commit to a release date, and declined to commit to a price cap or to define what she means by ‘delivering affordable reservations’ for campers who wish to secure a site.
Private operators are expected to be able to book blocks of campsites at some NSW national parks.
The Opposition Liberal Party claims that vehicle access fees are also being reviewed, and says this could suggest additional charges and complexity may be added without consultation.
Minister Sharpe told the Budget Estimates Committee that the Government had been working through issues such as vehicle access fees to parks, as well as the camping fees regime, and said she expected the response to consultation would be done soon.
“There are a lot of different strings that are being pulled here, which include things like vehicle access fees,” she said. “What I will tell you is that, as a result of the consultation, camping fees and access to camping will be better than they are now, there will be some changes across the State, but we’re finalising those … it’s complicated.”
The other big thing under consideration is the introduction of supported private camping sites, whereby selected businesses can offer different services such as already set-up tents and perhaps food for campers.
When pressed on when a decision would be made about that proposal, Minister Sharpe said no final approval has been given at this stage.
“I’m pretty committed to actually providing supported camping but, as I said, we had an Expression of Interest (EOI) process,” she said. “I believe there are five organisations that have put in EOIs … National Parks is working through that, but I haven’t seen the outcome of that yet.”
When challenged on whether there would be a price cap on what private operators can charge for their camping services within national parks, the minister refused to be drawn.
“I can’t put a price cap on something when I haven’t actually seen what the fees will be,” she said. “Let’s just wait and see.”
However, Shadow Minister for the Environment Jacqui Munro said that, with no resolution, some campsites could face a 400% booking fee increase under the Government’s draft 2025 proposal.
“NSW families and campers deserve certainty, not more vagaries,” Ms Munro said. “It is more difficult to see the government’s intentions than the view from Cathedral Rock National Park on a misty morning.”
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