If I build it, will they come?

[wally]

It's an idea I've been toying with for some time. There is a part of my property (well kind of... there is a small tenure issue to sort out but that's beside the point) that would lend itself to camping. So I'm considering setting up something that's low-key bush camping with a composting toilet - a minimum of facilities - and charging a small fee. The area is adjacent to a pictuesque little waterhole with resident platypus. It's no Cape Trib but it's pleasant enough for a night's camping. Farm tours would be a possibility and we sell value-added macadamia products direct from the farm. We're about an hour from each of the Fraser Island barges at Hervey Bay and Inskip Point and about ten minutes off the Bruce Highway. I wouldn't expect to make much money - it would be as much an interest thing as a money-making thing. Basically I would just love to be able to sit around a fire with Land Rover people of an evening and talk about Land Rovers. People with lesser vehicles would still be welcome but I would probably charge them more and just leave them to it :p. The input costs wouldn't be that great. There is a local bloke making fairly cheap composting toilets - some fire pits, a bit of fencing - and then there's public liability (that might be the killer). I don't know really. Would anyone come? Is my location strategic enough? What am I not considering? Any thoughts?

[JDNSW]

I gather you have a farm of some sort. I believe there is a farm stay organisationthat should be able to give you all the information you are after. Not too sure how to find it, but your local chamber of commerce or Farmers Federation branch would be a good start. It is likely that you would need a planning permit, and your local council would be another good starting point. I know that there are quite expensive (sorry, extensive) regulations on what you have to have for camping areas, but I think they start at some minimum number of sites, perhaps about six.

Some sort of water supply would be a good idea - if you have a toilet building, you could collect water off its roof into a small tank, for example.

John

[Outlaw]

Sounds interesting and could be willing to make a trek up for a night ;)

PL could be an issue as said above but sure your council could say for sure... if aiming for clubs etc. then there PL is in play until you charge them :angel:

[dullbird]

thats were a donation comes in ;)

[willem]

I reckon the public liability issue is the one to look closely at - but don't be too scared of it. Get some good advice and put the recommendations into place and get a good pl insurance policy and you should be right. Good legal advice is worth every penny you pay for it.

Having said all that, I reckon the more camping places there are the better, so I would like to encourage you to go ahead and investigate it and if it works out, go ahead. And if I'm ever up that way I will make use of it and come and visit you.

And good on you for having the initiative. Its a great dream and worth following.

Willem

[Bigbjorn]

HMMM. Start up as godbotherer born again 4WD park and camping site. You can incorporate as a church/ charity. I can then come and preach and solicit donations. If it is good enough for Oral Roberts and Billy Graham and the old guy with the false teeth, lilac robes, and crystal cathedral, there must be a decent dollar in it.

[pop058]

The more stuff on the north side of Brisvegas, the better. Get good advice and go for it.

Paul

[digger]

question....

wont this freak out the platypus?
they are a very shy creature that doesnt cope well with contaminants?


just a thought!


but good luck to you, i reckon you may do ok!

[wally]

I gather you have a farm of some sort. I believe there is a farm stay organisationthat should be able to give you all the information you are after. Not too sure how to find it, but your local chamber of commerce or Farmers Federation branch would be a good start. It is likely that you would need a planning permit, and your local council would be another good starting point. I know that there are quite expensive (sorry, extensive) regulations on what you have to have for camping areas, but I think they start at some minimum number of sites, perhaps about six.

Some sort of water supply would be a good idea - if you have a toilet building, you could collect water off its roof into a small tank, for example.

John

Yes we do have a farm. We grow macadamias and run a small Droughtmaster herd. I haven't looked into regulations yet, John, it's purely at the "idea" stage. Thanks for your input.

[wally]

thats were a donation comes in ;)

Good thinking there, dullbird.

[wally]

HMMM. Start up as godbotherer born again 4WD park and camping site. You can incorporate as a church/ charity. I can then come and preach and solicit donations. If it is good enough for Oral Roberts and Billy Graham and the old guy with the false teeth, lilac robes, and crystal cathedral, there must be a decent dollar in it.

By jove, you're right. See, this is why I posted the idea on here. I knew I could trust you blokes to come up with the big ideas. I might take you up on that. Do you have any experience?

[wally]

question....

wont this freak out the platypus?
they are a very shy creature that doesnt cope well with contaminants?


just a thought!


but good luck to you, i reckon you may do ok!

No, I don't think so. If I thought any of this would threaten the platypus population, I wouldn't do it. But I know of places where platypus live quite happily alongside campgrounds where hundreds of people come and go daily, and swim and make plenty of noise. What I'm talking about is very low numbers of people. I'm not sure what you mean by contaminants. Hopefully there wouldn't be any.

[Bigbjorn]

By jove, you're right. See, this is why I posted the idea on here. I knew I could trust you blokes to come up with the big ideas. I might take you up on that. Do you have any experience?

No need. you simply record one of their TV or radio programmes and lip sync.

Oral Roberts told the faithful the Lord was a'gonna take him if they didn't send $3million over a weekend. They sent $5 million. He had no idea there was so much easy money out there so he upped the ante by telling them the Lord now wanted $8 million, and got it. Praise the Lord.

[Newbs-IIA]

Sounds like a great idea :) I would come and either pay for the privilage or work for you on the farm as payment - have you considered this?

Let me know if you are looking for a farm hand over the uni holidays ;) I have a good work ethic, my own Series IIA Landrover and will do just about anything to get out of the Brisbane suburbs for a week or so hahahaha :D

[wally]

That's very charitable of you mate. I generally have all the help I need, but if you're up this way feel free to drop in. There's plenty of room for a 2A and a swag around here. PM me if you're coming and I'll give you directions.

[Chops]

I think its a "top idea", when I've been up that way previously, it would have been nice to have had somewhere like that to stay before going to the island.
Small friendly places are good because you get more info than from the regonal info places. Locals have a way of knowing the kinds of places that we like to poke around in, (4x4 wise),
Good luck and hope it works, and if I may, I'll come stay when next up that way.

Chops

[Blknight.aus]

if you build it they will come...


especially if you can get it mentioned favorabley in one of the camp review books or listed on an RACQ stops map (or any other of them).

it helps if you invite them along to inspect the point prior to them departing for the trips that their selected editors take to review the stops on last years book. (meeting them with a slab and some stories also helps).

people like myself, redback and a few others are always looking for cheap to free camping places.