An increasing number of schools have been opening up their ovals to offer grey nomads and others a cut-price camping option … but not everybody is happy about it.
In Queensland, for example, the Buddina and Maroochydore state schools have been generating income for the school community
Transforming the oval into a campground at Buddina generated $7100 for the Parents and Citizens (P&C) Committee.
At Maroochydore State School, the 180 motorhomes that stayed over the six-week school summer holiday holiday period raised about $14,000 before costs.
The Sunshine Coast Daily newspaper reports that campers spent an estimated $100,000 in the local area.
However, the Caravan Parks Association of Queensland is not impressed and wants the introduction of mandatory regulations for all campgrounds.
The organisation’s operations manager Kristy Ponting told the Sunshine coast Daily that it was not fair these school sites, as well as showgrounds, were not liable to the same strict regulations as commercial campsites.
“Local caravan parks have to adhere to local laws which regulate activity, as well as state and federal regulations to ensure the safety of the environment for the consumer,” she said. “When school grounds are used, there is nothing in place to ensure they adhere to what is ordinarily required to ensure safe practice.”
She said the lack of regulation in these sites might spoil holidaymakers’ experience of an entire area, and not just the campground they were visiting.
Ms Ponting told the newspaper that commercial caravan parks had set regulations on spacing allowed between sites, on-site managers, safe disposal of grey water and registration requirements.
“An inferior product has a flow-on effect to those offering a quality experience,” she said.
She said her concern was nothing to do with potential lost income for caravan parks as she said research showed 85% of campers preferred commercial sites. Instead, she said she was worried about “an inferior product damaging our reputation”.
Would a cheaper (but inferior) camping option put you off – or encourage you – to visit certain areas? Have you camped on a school oval? How was the experience? Comment below.
Our local school P&C is struggling to keep up with costs, the new school budget has had a big impact on funds, the school is reliant on volunteers to help with bus driving etc and if there is any chance of an income from other sources go for it. But there is a policy about any persons on school grounds after hours. I would gladly camp on school grounds if I thought it would help kids to go on excersiouns and buy sports equipment.
No, lot of the grey nomad don’t want and will not use all the extra caravan park have , but here we go again one business trying to dictate to the local community every one should stay at there park, if they manage too can the camping in school grounds, all’s that going to happen people will just by pass the area and go elsewhere then the School and local community will loose the income that they where generating from the camping area. IT’S time all the other business in these towns stood up to the Caravan Parks.
In a preivous life I worked at a high school and it was during the school holidays that the greatest amount of vandalism occurred.
By allowing campers onto school grounds would go a long way in alleviating the vandalism problems and it would also generate much needed funding for schools.
Lets face it, how much money is raised by selling lamingtons compared to the income generated by allowing camping?
As for Ms Ponting’s claim that, ” An inferior product has a flow-on effect to those offering a quality experience,”
So caravan parks have set regualtions on allowable spacing.
What a school would not know how to space vans? It would only be a matter of Googling the answer.
As for on-site management I have no doubt that the school P&C would have the resources to provide on-site management.
As for safe disposal of grey water a contractor could be contracted to undertake disposal.
Well does that same principle apply to a small corner store who is in direct competition with either Woolwoorths or Coles? Surely a corner store could/would be regarded as providing an inferior product also. What superior product do caravans park actually provide for low cost camping?
The inference is there, yet when it comes to a caravan park operators it is a different matter.
I would like to when and where the research was conducted that provided the figures of 85% of campers prefered commercial sites.
We have tacit permission to park up on private school ground in Maroochydore. We do not use any of their facilities as we are in a self contained vehicle. During these last school holidays I was able to chase away a couple of young vandals before they could do too much damage. I’m sure our presence kept others away. Of course we spent a fair bit of money in Maroochydore – groceries, fuel, chemists etc.
I was told by a few of the schools on the coast they would not take money away from the parks and they would only allow big rigs or very large motor homes that would not fit into the caravan parks. . Our van is 20ft and self sufficient. I see it as a good revenue raiser for the schools and this to me is discrimination against smaller rigs. I went through the correct channels. We parked in a driveway and left when holidays started.
Fantastic idea. Forward thinking p&c a lot of people can’t afford the caravan parks so just move on to where they can and spend their money there
As a Few have already Said..
If the Presence of People Camping on the school grounds help to generate money for the Schools P&C’s then Personally I say yes..
If I had to Pay $5-10 to stay in such a spot then yes I would be all for it..
If the campers in the area helped stop Vandals from doing damage to the School then yes, its a good thing..
On the Grey Water.. why Not Put that to use of helping to Water the tree’s etc in the school area, as long as its not Black Water or full of nasty chemicals I think it might actually help keep the tree’s going..
So would I use a School area to stay in, if it helped the school, MOST definitely..
Better to help the schools than to help the GREEDY CP owners..
More power to the Schools, as they are teaching our future..
Juergen
Absolutely fantastic, for way to long there has been a shortage of campsites on the Sunshine Coast. We are currently working our way round Australia and love this idea. We have 2 little very well behaved dogs and use showgrounds, schools and also free camps as much as we can. The parks are cramped, way to many restrictions and some very unfriendly. Briing it on.. All schools struggle with costs and vandalism in the holidays this keeps them safe free from damage and gives back to the schools where they need it most..WELL DONE !!!
What a brilliant idea 🙂
I would definitely stay at a school during the holidays.
I would definitely NOT stay in a caravan park during the school holidays.
My motorhome is small, self contained and I am intelligent enough to know what is safe and what is not.
Is there a list of schools who are clever enough to open the gates to us?
We would happily stay and more happily pay a small amount to the school. Our van is self contained and we would be prepared to save grey water for the schools gardens. If it means that school will have better equipment and some child could do an excursion that would be wonderful.
In school holidays the caravan parks are packed and we would love to stay in a quieter area and still enjoy the local attractions .
I also one worked at a school. We always said that the large grounds should be utilised, particularly during School Holidays and Week – Ends. At this time we thought sport or other community activities would be good. Reason Being that utilisation had the real possibility of reducing vandalism while the grounds were empty. Now the Federal Government is planning to make all Public Schools independent opening the grounds up for Grey Nomads would defiantly inject much needed finance but also help to reduce vandal costs. GREATEST IDEA EVER. Please put up a list.
We, like so many “grey nomads”, are in our sixties and retired and enjoying our great country by caravan. Despite what many of the younger generation seem to think, the worlds woes are not caused by us. In the main we are very responsible campers who leave campsites cleaner than we found them and would relish the idea of school oval campsites, as an economic option. We do not require “bells and whistles” campgrounds or parks, as most are self sufficient and just require a nice spot to set up camp and socialise a bit. The extra income school councils would gain, would far out way any costs to them, as the free security and gardens maintenance (grey water watering) would keep school grounds secure while school is out!
not many schools have showers and toilets accessible from outside the main building. cleaning? public liability? omg another can of worms from narrow minded people? life is no longer simple.
I think it is a great idea to camp at school grounds in holiday season. School are protected then from vandals. As for the grey water etc. a lot of van parks just run it out onto the lawn , water access is short so it works both ways. We always look for the quieter areas and stay clear of van parks if possible. They are over priced and getting dearer. They hit the grey nomads as we travel is the off school holidays and they call it the peak season? Good luck to schools and hope to see a list posted of the ones that are available
What a great idea,it would certainly help the schools with their costs, and great security, all I can say is bring it on with in all schools.
I agree that camping on school ovals deters vandalism such as break and enters fires especially if the state government plans for public schools to be independent how are schools going to cope paying for insurance which will be passed onto parents. It’s not as if these campers have waterfront views like caravan parks. At present I am sitting in my motor home in a caravan park paying $275 a week in off season what pensioner can afford that
Thank goodness there are some sensible options to overpriced caravan parks. My wife and I are retired and spend much of our time travelling up and down the east coast. A few months ago we camped at the Maleny showgrounds for $15 a night and while we were there we put 6 new tyres on our vehicle and bought diesel, food and gifts which came to over $2,000 spent in the town. Our vehicle is totally self sufficient with solar power, gas hot water, 240v and holds 130 ltrs of grey water. We have our own shower and toilet, so caravan parks with jumping castles, noisy pools and playgrounds are our last choice.
Paying $40/$45 p/n for a patch of grass to park on is not affordable for most nomads and its great to see more alternatives. We will spend our money in the towns if we don’t get ripped off by the caravan parks.
Free camping at the school at Tweed Heads in the fifties and sixties. Was a great idea for family
We would love to try staying on a school oval during school holidays. Mix our holiday up with ovals, caravan parks and showgrounds. Absolutely fantastic revenue for the schools and vandalism would be squashed. Seems like a win win situation to me…….let’s get back to practical please.