A group of Victorian caravan parks has developed an innovative way of keeping out unwanted visitors.
Fed up with New Year’s Eve revellers causing disturbances at its foreshore van parks, Warrnambool City Council trialled issuing wristbands to guests … with impressive results.
Under the initiative, guests staying at the parks were issued with a free wristband, while those not staying at the parks paid a $10 fee. As 2013 became 2014, the scheme was credited with significantly reducing anti-social behaviour by people attending parties held by the 4500 people staying at the parks.
Security contractors removed a few people without wristbands from the parks, but most people without wristbands left quietly when requested. The feedback from park guests has been highly positive and the council is now likely to extend its entry wristband plan.
One camper at the Shipwreck Bay Holiday Park, Peter Conheady, told the Standard newspaper that the wristband policy had made the parks a more pleasant place for families.
He said that in previous years, there had been a problem with big groups of teenagers wandering around the parks on New Year’s Eve ‘yahooing’.
Warrnambool City Council says it is aware that one of the reasons people stay at the parks is the opportunity to celebrate New Year’s Eve with friends.
“We are a family-friendly park,” Council tourism services manager, Peter Abbott, told the Standard. “But if a party becomes unruly, then the foreshore caravan parks are not the place to come.”
Do you think the wristband scheme is a good way to keep out undesirables from caravan parks? Was it peaceful at the park or campsite where you saw in the New Year? Comment below.
