Grey Nomads to get slugged in Tasmania

[Tank]

Saw a story on ABC last night about the whining caravan park owners complaining to the (think: Financial Regulator, what a BS title) of the Tassie government that the Grey Nomads are sending them broke, with caravan parks closing down across Tassie.
Seems these terrible Grey Nomads and other Tassie travelers are taking advantage of their Right to camp wherever they wish and esp. in Council provided FREE camping areas.
The Fat Cats in government have come up with the solution and that is to force Local Councils to recover costs of running/maintaining their Free camping areas to force campers into Caravan parks @ up to $40/night, campers interviewed said either they could not afford that or wouldn't be able to tour Tassie as that would be their fuel money. My solution is Boycott Tassie till they feel the pinch and these greedy Park owners go broke.
The amount of money spent by these people is enormous, Tassie would go broke if not for Tourists, esp. the Grey Nomads and others that pay the exorbitant fees to get their campers to Tassie, a few months of Boycott would do it, Regards Frank.

[p38arover]

P.S. should be a "get" in between "to" and "slugged" in title, Edit won't let you change the title for some reason that escapes me.

You can edit it. Go to Edit, then Go Advanced.

[Tank]

You can edit it. Go to Edit, then Go Advanced.
Thanks Ron, doesn't escape me any more, Regards Frank.

[isuzutoo-eh]

campers interviewed said either they could not afford that or wouldn't be able to tour Tassie as that would be their fuel money.



The amount of money spent by these people is enormous, Tassie would go broke if not for Tourists, esp. the Grey Nomads

They can't be spending all that much money if they have to choose between fuel or a campsite.

[GJP]

Your pretty right Tank, regretfully the Tassie, Labor/Greens combo has all but drained the economic base in that State. Grey nomads buy fuel, bread, food and other basic commodities especially in the small communities, remove this and you have a much larger problem, however the idealogy of the rulling parties don't see this and simply beleive to overcome is with a bigger slice of GST.

[Michael2]

We spent a month on the road (NT) in Sept. All the once free National Parks, all have fees. I have a finite amount of money, so that's money local business misses out on. Besides, I don't feel like I need groomed gravel, bollards and clogged toilets to camp, I'm happy bush camping.

At one (WA) park, a caretaker lamented that all the overseas tourist and aboriginals looked after the park, but the locals (regular aussies) are the ones that show less respect for the facilities. I think we should all show respect for the facilities, and abide by the rules, even if we don't agree with them; but from talking to other travellers, there's a resentment at having to pay for what belongs to taxpayers. The tourists come expecting to pay, so there's no resentment, and the traditional owners get free access.

[Utemad]

People will still want to tour Tassie. They'll probably just camp in 'no camping' areas.

I tried to get a spot in a few caravan parks in Tassie when we did a trip down there. However they seemed to close up pretty early and left us locked out so we would go to free areas but still use the caravan park's amenities :angel:

[DiscoGav]

My solution is Boycott Tassie till they feel the pinch and these greedy Park owners go broke.

I think Tassie is already feeling the pinch. Logging is gone, mining will be next. It's such a shame too, such a great place to live.

[PhilipA]

The tourists come expecting to pay, so there's no resentment, and the traditional owners get free access.

YOU MUST BE JOKING.
In my experience in many campsites in National Parks in WA, the backpackers have the word to come in after dark when the ranger has left.
They then take over the campfires and sing etc loudly all night or until you walk over and threaten them.
Then they leave at dawn to avoid the ranger before he arrives.
Two examples top of mind Wynjana and Bell Gorge where the ranger mentioned it to me
Regards Philip A

[PhilipA]

On the general subject the NSW government has a "non compete policy" in that national park campgrounds are instructed to charge as much as local caravan parks so that the private business is not undercut.

At Iluka , I was charged $28 theoretically plus $7 per day park entry, although the position is far nicer than the caravan parks it still rankles. This was non school holidays mid week.

Regards Philip A

[It'sNotWorthComplaining!]

The last Frontier where I can go trout fishing and camp near the lake or river and they want to take it away.

[vnx205]

They can't be spending all that much money if they have to choose between fuel or a campsite.

I think the point is that grey nomads have a lot more time on their hands, so they don't have to rush back home to their job. They spend more money because they have more time to spend it.

At least I think that would be the case because a few years ago it was revealed that backpackers were the group who injected the most tourist dollars into the Australian economy.

It seems that rich jet sitters may spend a lot each day, but they tend to be here for such a short time, whereas backpackers might be here spending a little bit each day for months on end.

If that was true for backpackers, then it may be also true for grey nomads. They might be a tight fisted lot, but they hang around for a long time. :D

[Slunnie]

On the general subject the NSW government has a "non compete policy" in that national park campgrounds are instructed to charge as much as local caravan parks so that the private business is not undercut.

At Iluka , I was charged $28 theoretically plus $7 per day park entry, although the position is far nicer than the caravan parks it still rankles. This was non school holidays mid week.

Regards Philip A
I don't mind paying when you can see the money being put back into resources. Fraser Island in QLD is a great example of this.

[PhilipA]

I don't mind paying when you can see the money being put back into resources

Neither do I!

But I do object to those "improvements" being bollards and fences to keep camper trailers out eg Twin Falls Qld, many on the South coast of NSW,etc,

And not a solar shower to be seen except in WA at Wynjana, Bells Gorge (even though the womens don't work as they have the panels facing the wrong way,even though the mens is correct)
Regards Philip A

[ugu80]

I don't mind paying when you can see the money being put back into resources. Fraser Island in QLD is a great example of this.

Why is the NSW government putting money into Fraser Is? However, the campground at Sturt National Park is a nice site ($17). Its like Fraser Is without the crowds; or the ocean; or the climate; but with flies.

[Slunnie]

Why is the NSW government putting money into Fraser Is? However, the campground at Sturt National Park is a nice site ($17). Its like Fraser Is without the crowds; or the ocean; or the climate; but with flies.
I don't think they are.

I just like the way QLD's national parks manage some of their areas where maintain access or where they charge you can see the improvements they are making. Fraser Island came to mind (not anything to do with NSW and very unlike NSW) where you pay for access, but they have provided maintained roads, dingo fenced and/or improved camping grounds, well organised attractions with improved access, showers, enviro toilets etc.

In NSW you get.... well, I'm not sure what you get. A stinky long drop.

[PAT303]

So the Grey Nomads buy a $100,000 200 series,spend $20,000 fitting it out,spend another $100,000 on the latest and greatest van,another $20,000 fitting it out than wobble off down the road sitting on 70 to save fuel but then complain because caravan parks charge them $40 for a powered site to run their satelite TV's,dish washer,fridge/freezers etc etc and all they can do is winge?. Pat

[Tank]

Got it wrong Pat, if you read my post, it is the Caravan Park owners that have whinged and whined to the government because Grey Nomads aren't using their parks, forcing the government to compel Local Councils to charge Grey Nomads to pay the same for their right to FREE camping as they would if they stayed in a Caravan park, if I was a Grey Nomad I would boycott Tassie, Regards Frank.

[Marshall]

Are you forgetting the flow on effect this will have? Don't think it's just the grey nomads that will be effected, there goes your own "cheap" family holiday down the drain as you will get slugged wherever you park too.

As a side note, not all grey nomads actually spend that sort of coin on their set up. Yes there are a few, but they are no different to what you or I would spend on a set up (IMO).
My old man has built his own motorhome, and not because he's a tight ass, but because he is on a pension that is below minimum wage. Hell, the man even changes his old diesel engine for the petrol / LPG set up depending on the price of fuel!

My folks live in Tasmania, and luckily are members of the Caravan and motorhome club, they park at friends' properties... anyway, I doubt small local councils will enforce the price rise...

[p38arover]

I have heard complaints that many families can't get into caravan parks because grey nomads arrive and spend the winter/summer/whatever in the park.

[bob10]

So the Grey Nomads buy a $100,000 200 series,spend $20,000 fitting it out,spend another $100,000 on the latest and greatest van,another $20,000 fitting it out than wobble off down the road sitting on 70 to save fuel but then complain because caravan parks charge them $40 for a powered site to run their satelite TV's,dish washer,fridge/freezers etc etc and all they can do is winge?. Pat


Do retirees really have that kind of money? If that is the case I could never be a grey nomad, perhaps a burnt out rover? :twobeers: Bob

[TerryO]

No matter what some people may think the vasy majority of Grey Nomads don't have flash expensive 4b's or $100,000 vans, most have very humble tugs and vans. Plus many sell their family homes to fund their touring and live full time in their vans.

I think for Tassie and its ailing economy this is potentially a big mistake if they want Nomads to continue to travel over their in big numbers in the future. Seriously it costs a small fortune to get a tug and van/large trailer across the Bass Strait in the first place and while many of these older people aren't spending money in van parks every night of the week they are spending money every where else in the Tassie economy.

I know when I used to run race meetings down their we could never run an event up to 2 weeks before the change over from off peak to full fares on the ferry as the ferry was booked out solid with vanners. That is an indication of how many travel down their and back each year.

More and more people are buying off road vans and decking them out with lots of solar and water tanks and refrigeration like we have so we can bush camp long term. For us anyway its not a case of not wanting to spend money at a van park, its a case of we don't like van parks and have no interest in staying in one.

Most Nomads live on tight and very strict budgets so making the ones that can't afford to pay for a van park fee every night of the week have to pay will just mean many won't travel their.

cheers,
Terry

[101RRS]

So the Grey Nomads buy a $100,000 200 series,spend $20,000 fitting it out,spend another $100,000 on the latest and greatest van,another $20,000 fitting it out than wobble off down the road sitting on 70 to save fuel but then complain because caravan parks charge them $40 for a powered site to run their satelite TV's,dish washer,fridge/freezers etc etc and all they can do is winge?. Pat

A somewhat over exaggeration for the vast majority of grey nomads.

[weeds]

When I travelled tassie a few years ago, 20 days on the island I was do glad I pre-booked most nights as the caravan were at 100% most night. Many travelers turned away from 4pm.

[vnx205]

About five years ago I spent a couple of weeks in Tassie, mostly on the west coast. I noticed that in Strahan, the caravan park had just a handful of sites for tents and vans. Most of the space was taken up with cabins.

A local told me that this was common. If that is the case, then it would seem that some caravan parks have not been catering for tents, vans and motorhomes for some time.

[PAT303]

A somewhat over exaggeration for the vast majority of grey nomads.

Really,see them alot do you?.Come over this side next winter and get a spot at Coral Bay,Exmouth,Broome etc and have a look at the set-ups that are camped there.Exaggeration my arse,better than 70% have brand new rigs and the rest a few years old,very few,very very few have anything older than a 100 series and better than half have boats on the roof,scooters on the back and everything in between.Don't tell me they are hard up,after spending big bucks on their rigs they expect clean,well serviced area's to park up but want someone else to pay for it.Lastly there has been some very bitter fights here because the GN's started camping in road train park-up area's so the drivers could not stop,a very serious offence if they don't and then alot of them complained when the truckers ripped into them for making noise while they were trying to sleep and don't get me started on their driving skills,or better still lack of driving skills. Pat

[PAT303]

Got it wrong Pat, if you read my post, it is the Caravan Park owners that have whinged and whined to the government because Grey Nomads aren't using their parks, forcing the government to compel Local Councils to charge Grey Nomads to pay the same for their right to FREE camping as they would if they stayed in a Caravan park, if I was a Grey Nomad I would boycott Tassie, Regards Frank.

So they should Frank,caravaners should camp in van parks and not anywhere they choose,they don't clean up after themselves and last year twice I saw vanners emptying their toilet tanks into the bush.A powered site in a clean serviced park for a whole month costs less than a tank of fuel. Pat

[Blknight.aus]

ever seen the end result of a grey nomad thats parked right in the middle of a truck stop and wont move?

picture if you will grey nomad rig with a B double either side of it so close that you cant swing the door all the way open a road train right on its back end and a taught liner single backed up to the front bumper.

One B double had a reefer on and had managed to park with the cooling plant (bout a 15kva diesel genny and refrigeration unit) right next door to the bedroom window.

[gavinwibrow]

So they should Frank,caravaners should camp in van parks and not anywhere they choose,they don't clean up after themselves and last year twice I saw vanners emptying their toilet tanks into the bush.A powered site in a clean serviced park for a whole month costs less than a tank of fuel. Pat
Tut tut - a gross generalisation. I'm a proud member of a large RV club with an underlying philosophy supported by many of LEAVE NO TRACE

[TerryO]

Really,see them alot do you?.Come over this side next winter and get a spot at Coral Bay,Exmouth,Broome etc and have a look at the set-ups that are camped there.Exaggeration my arse,better than 70% have brand new rigs and the rest a few years old,very few,very very few have anything older than a 100 series and better than half have boats on the roof,scooters on the back and everything in between.Don't tell me they are hard up,after spending big bucks on their rigs they expect clean,well serviced area's to park up but want someone else to pay for it.Lastly there has been some very bitter fights here because the GN's started camping in road train park-up area's so the drivers could not stop,a very serious offence if they don't and then alot of them complained when the truckers ripped into them for making noise while they were trying to sleep and don't get me started on their driving skills,or better still lack of driving skills. Pat


Pat in general the 'better off' ones can afford to spend winter on the west coast, so your measuring all vanners by the few that you see.

cheers,
Terry

[101RRS]

Really,see them alot do you?.

Being retired and grey and getting out and about - yes actually.

[lotsmaw]

I thought this thread was originally about commercial caravan park operators in Tasmania trying to force local councils to charge travellers equivalent rates for use of their free camp sites.

As I understand it, these sites are usually roadside sites with little if any facilities and are usually quite distinct from National Park sites (which are not controlled by local councils) and reasonably distinct from sites used by truckies.

It is not only grey nomads that use these sites but they probably form the majority of users.

Our local community has been working with Vicroads and the local council to establish one of these sites in our area. Why? Because the travellers will frequent the general store, the pub, the servo and maybe even the local wineries (hopefully including mine). If the council then start charging $25 a night they will have to provide showers, toilets, swimming pool, playground, etc etc. At the moment all that is proposed is a poo dump point and a hard stand area.

Maybe the Tassie caravan park operators need to offer a better deal to attract the GNs in off the street.

Bill

[Tank]

ever seen the end result of a grey nomad thats parked right in the middle of a truck stop and wont move?

picture if you will grey nomad rig with a B double either side of it so close that you cant swing the door all the way open a road train right on its back end and a taught liner single backed up to the front bumper.

One B double had a reefer on and had managed to park with the cooling plant (bout a 15kva diesel genny and refrigeration unit) right next door to the bedroom window.
Cattle trucks Dave, that's what you need, all them cows and steers tap dancing and mooing all night, not to mention the smell, Regards Frank.

[wrinklearthur]

Hi All

I have had some pretty bad experiences, whilst travelling in both, using powered caravan sites and free camp areas.

The Caravan Park that I used to go to, in Adventure Bay on Bruny Island, was a brilliant council owned site and was perfect for my family , Our caravan was on site there for over fifteen years, until the park was sold to a private owner.
This owner then asked us to remove our van after six months of them taking over, as he wanted more room ( read more money for them ) to place their vans for 'overnighters' who then hire the permanent on site vans. The really unpleasant part of this event, was the park owner was hinting that they could buy and take our van off our hands to save us any trouble ( We didn't have it road registered at that time ). So we quietly sold our van to a private person who then removed it using a temporary day permit to shift it well away, What is the crude expression one uses when they get a victory over a misguided person? something like 'you have been drawn into my vacuum machine '.
We had more trouble in that park, in the time after it became private then we ever did before, with rowdy parties, theft and vandalism, but a least the amenities were being kept cleaner.

The other side of the coin, is the state of 'free' camping spots after a public holiday period, but this is a problem Australia wide as far as I can see.
The condition that these grounds and surrounding area are usually left in, can be summed up by one word, Disgusting.

If the local shire councils could only supply at least, a long drop toilet at those places, maybe the problem wouldn't then lead to the high E coli counts in their water supplies.
A couple of recent developments down here in Tasmania that are interesting, is the free camping supplied by some hotels in their paddock beside the pub.
Another is, the letting for a small fee, of showgrounds to the camperhome people when those grounds are not in use by the show committees, which is most of the year.

The frequency that those precious caravan park people seem to complain, goes up each time the Bass Strait Ferry fare increases or the cost of fuel takes a hike upwards.
.

[Bigbjorn]

Hi All

I have had some pretty bad experiences, whilst travelling in both, using powered caravan sites and free camp areas.

The Caravan Park that I used to go to, in Adventure Bay on Bruny Island, was a brilliant council owned site and was perfect for my family , Our caravan was on site there for over fifteen years, until the park was sold to a private owner.
This owner then asked us to remove our van after six months of them taking over, as he wanted more room ( read more money for them ) to place their vans for 'overnighters' who then hire the permanent on site vans.

Similar thing happened on the NSW North Coast some time ago. Very nice council operated beachfront caravan park on Crown land. Council lease was up and site was sent to tender. A private sector operator won and changes occurred almost instantly. Council's manager allowed vans to be permanently on site for $14 per week whilst unoccupied. Normal rates applied when occupied. Some had been there many years, no longer on wheels, and some people had laid their own concrete slabs for their annex. New operator said no vans on sites unless occupied rate paid which was near double the Council's rate, otherwise must be moved to a storage area at the rear of the park, storage $30 per week. Vans must be on wheels and able to be towed. Park to charge $20 for moving to and from storage area. Two days notice required to move van to a site if one is available. This got rid of the economical weekender/holiday crowd.

This is all history now as the operator managed to freehold the site and it is all units now.

[Ralph1Malph]

Got it wrong Pat, if you read my post, it is the Caravan Park owners that have whinged and whined to the government because Grey Nomads aren't using their parks, forcing the government to compel Local Councils to charge Grey Nomads to pay the same for their right to FREE camping as they would if they stayed in a Caravan park.

To say that the government is forced to compel councils to levy stays is to ignore the fact that this is exactly in accordance with the voter intentions of Tassie folk. The elected representatives of the Government are merely carrying out the wishes of those who voted them in, and continue to do so.
I personally have never seen the need to visit Tassie. A backwater IMHO full of these type of legislative and societal anomalies. (My thoughts only, not necessarily represtative.)

That being said, if campers and overnighters actually played fair much of this stuff and hoohar would go away. We know about campers/overnighters leaving rubbish etc, but they also do number ones and twos inapproriately, fires in inappropriate locations or burn things that shouldn't be burned etc.

Ralph

[Chucaro]

I used to live and tour for 2 years in our motorhome and only used a caravan park in two nights.
The way that we have do it was having a fossicking permit and with it we have free access to many places in Tasmania, Victoria and Qld.
The Weld River and Gladstone in the north east in Tasmania is an interesting area to explore and camp.
Cheers