The debate over free camping areas is always a lively one, and nowhere more so than in Tasmania.
The Waratah-Wynyard Council in Tassie’s stunning north west has just published its draft ‘open spaces, sport and recreation plan’, and it clearly recognises the importance of grey nomads and other travellers in boosting the local economy.
The Advocate newspaper reports that the draft plan suggests the council encourage and promote camping for the whole community, and urge businesses to upgrade the quality of facilities for campers.
The plan suggests the council should not run camping grounds, but rather manage the land they are on. And in particular, it should protect sites in public ownership where they are on the foreshore and other scenic places.
Another crucial council role would be to install enough waste dump sites to cater for the growing number of vehicles.
While many grey nomads who don’t have self-contained vehicles are complaining about feeling ‘excluded’ from many free or budget camping areas, the Waratah-Wynyard Council looks set to be another to take a hard line on the issue.
The draft plan says freedom campers are those who camp self-sufficiently, meaning they don’t need other facilities for sleeping, eating, washing and cooking … and their vehicles can contain all the waste for at least two days before it has to be dumped.
In addition, the plan suggests council clarify the rules for daytime ‘camping’ where vehicles stop or park at tourist areas during the day. It noted that if the Wynyard showground area were to be lost as a freedom camping site, the council may need to find another spot. It suggested two other places as potential free camping sites: Boat Harbour Beach; and Sisters Beach.
The promise of extensive free camping is THE criteria that determines where we travel. We have spent the money to ensure we can take advantage of free or low cost camping options so refuse to spend our money in areas who do not provide these facilities – actively looking for alternative routes to keep us away from localities that are anti freedom camping.
we have a caravan with 110 lt grey water tank would stop there if we could but not aloud at show ground as motor homes only
We are not all loaded with money he biggest barrier to us is the ferry. $2000 each way for our 25′ van and tug.
we agree
$2000 each way, as fares are based on length and we have a 28 foot motor home and tow a car behind for $2000 return I don’t know where you get that price from?
we agree
Promise of more free camping areas for self contained rigs is welcomed