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Free camping in VIC set to end

Posted: Thu Feb 13, 2014 10:32 am
by Sleepy
It appears the Napthine government is planning to introduce fees (as of March 2014) for previously free campsites in, initially National Parks, and later in State Parks of Victoria.

For further info, check out the articles here:

http://www.theage.com.au/comment/clampi ... 30hhb.html

and here:

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/victor ... 6744817948

This seems to be more of the Napthine government's policy to "commercialise" Victoria's Parks (they recently passed legislation to allow 99-year leases in Victorian National Parks - e.g. there's a bid by a developer to build a hotel in the Tidal River campground of Wilsons Promontory National Park, and I believe there are similiar bids for the Grampians National Park).

As Dr Garner's article points out; "The free camping sites are not major cost centres for Parks Victoria. The risk is that improving services would add more to costs than can be retrieved in fees. The guidelines warn agencies against this, of pursuing their own self-interest by inflating of levels of service beyond the needs and wishes of the stakeholders. If, as seems likely, the cost of collecting fees at the basic level does exceed the value of the fees retrieved, then the abolition of free camping would be financially irrational.".

This is at a time when a restructure to Parks Victoria announced by the Napthine government late last year may affect up to 500 Parks Victoria employees (during the previous 18 months Parks Victoria had already reduced its workforce by 120 positions through a voluntary departures program; see here http://vnpa.org.au/page/publications/na ... arks-staff ).

In other words, less staff, trying to provide more services (which may not be wanted) and collect more fees.

What are others thoughts on this?

Re: Free camping in VIC set to end

Posted: Thu Feb 13, 2014 12:45 pm
by Stickbow Hunter
That is an excellent article by Bill Garner. Camping is part of our Australian culture for sure and those who enjoy it should not be taxed further IMO!!!

This is a typical money grabbing stunt by another Government. In the end it will probably cost more than they will raise by their attempted revenue grab. Some of those fees are outrageous. A lot of the free camps have little to no facilities so the upkeep is nearly non existent.

Let's hope this money grab gets stopped.

Jeff

Re: Free camping in VIC set to end

Posted: Thu Feb 13, 2014 3:29 pm
by Curvemeister
Too true Jeff , couldn't agree more .

Re: Free camping in VIC set to end

Posted: Thu Feb 13, 2014 3:38 pm
by Len
The interesting thing is that Labour left a 178 million black hole in parks funding!
However, politics aside the biggest threat to camping is from the national parks association. This bunch of greeny no hopers want to keep everyone out of parks full stop and create more parks!

Re: Free camping in VIC set to end

Posted: Thu Feb 13, 2014 3:58 pm
by Mick Smith
Len wrote:The interesting thing is that Labour left a 178 million black hole in parks funding!
However, politics aside the biggest threat to camping is from the national parks association. This bunch of greeny no hopers want to keep everyone out of parks full stop and create more parks!
Too true Len and not only just on the land. They're always clamouring to get more and more marine national parks, when everyone knows the authorities can't properly manage the ones they've already got. Their exclusive philosophies discriminate against the majority of the resource users. I simply don't understand why any government would even give them the time of day.

Re: Free camping in VIC set to end

Posted: Fri Feb 14, 2014 8:02 am
by Nephew
Len wrote:The interesting thing is that Labour left a 178 million black hole in parks funding!
However, politics aside the biggest threat to camping is from the national parks association. This bunch of greeny no hopers want to keep everyone out of parks full stop and create more parks!
Mick Smith wrote: Too true Len and not only just on the land. They're always clamouring to get more and more marine national parks, when everyone knows the authorities can't properly manage the ones they've already got. Their exclusive philosophies discriminate against the majority of the resource users. I simply don't understand why any government would even give them the time of day.
Isn't it great that in a Democracy a diversity of opinions can be openly expressed? See, conversely to the opinions expressed above, my response to this LNP policy (I find it perplexing and odd how you guys felt the need to blame/slander others, considering they had no input whatsoever in the formation of this policy) is to make sure I vote Green next state election up here. National & State Parks belong to the people, not Govt. and no Govt. should have the effrontery (common of the "Born to Rule" mentality of the elitist LNP) to even suggest charging for the basic enjoyment of camping in the bush, a right you will always enjoy if the Left have anything to do with it. From my perspective, to claim otherwise is to be simply misinformed, or disingenuous. Facilitation of rampant capitalist vandalism is a tired and failed idea, time to look after what really matters, IMHO! :wink: :smile:

Re: Free camping in VIC set to end

Posted: Fri Feb 14, 2014 9:02 am
by Stickbow Hunter
IMO Craig voting Greens is a sure way to have, not just free camping, but all your outdoor activities threatened. :roll: If they had their way they would lock up up every bit of land they could.
Also I think the present Victorian Government must have got their ideas from the QLD Labour Govt - just come up this way and see what outrageous charges you would have to pay to see - let alone camp - on some of our local beaches etc. I might add that the present QLD Govt are refusing to abolish these charges though. :x

Jeff

Re: Free camping in VIC set to end

Posted: Fri Feb 14, 2014 12:01 pm
by Curvemeister
I just heard on ABC local radio this morning ( Illawarra ) that it seems not only VIC are looking at closing off camping areas .

Apparently Carrington falls camp ground , in the southern highlands in NSW ( on the ridge between Moss vale and Nowra ) and Bendeela campground down in Kangaroo Valley ( just down the bottom of the ridge ) , are also looking at charging fees and the requirement to book ahead to camp there .

They are sighting repeated vandalism attacks , large amounts of rubbish ( beer bottles etc ) as being the primary cause of the closing off of these areas .

So I guess once they have closed off a couple , and the precedent is set , can probably expect others to be locked down in short order.

Re: Free camping in VIC set to end

Posted: Fri Feb 14, 2014 12:24 pm
by Stickbow Hunter
Curvemeister wrote:I just heard on ABC local radio this morning ( Illawarra ) that it seems not only VIC are looking at closing off camping areas .

Apparently Carrington falls camp ground , in the southern highlands in NSW ( on the ridge between Moss vale and Nowra ) and Bendeela campground down in Kangaroo Valley ( just down the bottom of the ridge ) , are also looking at charging fees and the requirement to book ahead to camp there .

They are sighting repeated vandalism attacks , large amounts of rubbish ( beer bottles etc ) as being the primary cause of the closing off of these areas .

So I guess once they have closed off a couple , and the precedent is set , can probably expect others to be locked down in short order.
That is very annoying to read about mate, both the charging of fees and the vandalism and rubbish. :x I had actually looked at the information in the Camps 7 book regarding the camping at Bendeela campground. We are hoping to do a trip south in a few weeks time.

Jeff

Re: Free camping in VIC set to end

Posted: Fri Feb 14, 2014 12:36 pm
by GrahameA
Hi Craig.
Nephew wrote:Isn't it great that in a Democracy a diversity of opinions can be openly expressed? ...
What!!!

That is a load of of codswallop! It is "pinko, leftist, radicals" that cause all the problems of the world. "Run the bastards over."
Nephew wrote:... Facilitation of rampant capitalist vandalism is ....
the way to get things done. Time to woodchip a few more old growth forests! :biggrin:

Re: Free camping in VIC set to end

Posted: Fri Feb 14, 2014 3:10 pm
by Curvemeister
Yeah it is a shame for sure Jeff , I don't know when exactly it will be implemented , you might get lucky and still find it open on your trip down .
It is a beautiful area Kangaroo valley and has a high tourist /day tripper / weekender traffic flow , so a bit surprised that the Bendeela camp has been hit by the louts and messed up.

I guess it is just that time of year when there are a lot of weekenders that are down that way for the fishing/kayaking/canoeing on lake Yarrunga / Tallowa dam water way with the hot weather , and have total disregard for what I deem the priveledge of being able to use that waterway .

A mate was there for a few days earlier in the week , and reported even campsites up river from the dam ( only accessible by kayak / canoe ) , which were clean and tidy only a week earlier when we did a 3 day trip , had beer bottles and rubbish left laying around.

I'll be out on the water there bright and early in the morning in the kayak , and hopefully all I see is plenty of fish to be caught :wink: :biggrin:

Re: Free camping in VIC set to end

Posted: Fri Feb 14, 2014 6:27 pm
by Stickbow Hunter
Curvemeister wrote:ah it is a shame for sure Jeff , I don't know when exactly it will be implemented , you might get lucky and still find it open on your trip down .
Not sure if we will come across to the coast or not yet. We have been to Kangaroo Valley and up the mountains on our bike and really loved the place.
Curvemeister wrote:I'll be out on the water there bright and early in the morning in the kayak , and hopefully all I see is plenty of fish to be caught
All the best with the fishing mate!

Jeff

Re: Free camping in VIC set to end

Posted: Sat Feb 15, 2014 8:46 pm
by Fanto
Nephew wrote:
Len wrote:The interesting thing is that Labour left a 178 million black hole in parks funding!
However, politics aside the biggest threat to camping is from the national parks association. This bunch of greeny no hopers want to keep everyone out of parks full stop and create more parks!
Mick Smith wrote: Too true Len and not only just on the land. They're always clamouring to get more and more marine national parks, when everyone knows the authorities can't properly manage the ones they've already got. Their exclusive philosophies discriminate against the majority of the resource users. I simply don't understand why any government would even give them the time of day.
Isn't it great that in a Democracy a diversity of opinions can be openly expressed? See, conversely to the opinions expressed above, my response to this LNP policy (I find it perplexing and odd how you guys felt the need to blame/slander others, considering they had no input whatsoever in the formation of this policy) is to make sure I vote Green next state election up here. National & State Parks belong to the people, not Govt. and no Govt. should have the effrontery (common of the "Born to Rule" mentality of the elitist LNP) to even suggest charging for the basic enjoyment of camping in the bush, a right you will always enjoy if the Left have anything to do with it. From my perspective, to claim otherwise is to be simply misinformed, or disingenuous. Facilitation of rampant capitalist vandalism is a tired and failed idea, time to look after what really matters, IMHO! :wink: :smile:

Its a bit odd a hunter voting for the "no hunting and fishing party " aka Greens

Re: Free camping in VIC set to end

Posted: Sun Feb 16, 2014 11:49 am
by Nephew
As much as I love to hunt, there is wider society to consider, and as blasphemous as it may seem to some, I vote on much more than single issues. If I have to make sacrifices for the greater good, so be it. I wish more voters would contemplate this perspective. Having said that, I don't believe the right to hunt is a sacrifice I will ever need make, especially as all the places I hunt are privately owned.

Never in our lifetime will they ever get to implement those policies, Fanto and Jeff. Even, if by some freak set of circumstances they somehow held power, or even the balance of power, actually being in the drivers seat is a whole lot different to being a spectator/critic in opposition, or having minor party status. Anyone who has been paying attention for the last 30 years would agree that once in Govt., and having to govern for all and not just your supporters (or corporate overlords in the case of the LNP. "Hail Emperor Rupert! Hail Empress Gina!"), the more extreme policies are ironed out of any parties platform. If not, they soon get hammered in the polls, and donations dry up. Ask Howard how hard it was to wrangle a quid by the time having the Senate in his pocket had gone to his head in '07, and Work Choices was unleashed. Even the big end of town had abandoned him by then. Not for the policy... they loved that... but because it was so extreme in the eyes of the electorate it had made him a walking corpse and he had no chance of continuing to hold office (or even his own seat! :mrgreen: ).

The Greens speak out for the little guy and stand up to big business. They are the party most likely to come out swinging (and mean it, unlike Labor, who will just sniff opportunity to score points) against the " resurrect Work Choices (but never admit to doing so... remember what happened to Howard!)" tendencies of the LNP. Good enough for me on those reasons alone! Until Labor shape up again, the Greens are a safe place to park my vote and make sure the LNP can't get it on preferences.

Anyway, that's my carefully considered position. :smile:

As for you, Grahame, when did you commence channelling Henry Bolte? :wink: :razz:

Re: Free camping in VIC set to end

Posted: Sun Feb 16, 2014 1:15 pm
by GrahameA
Hi Craig
Nephew wrote:... As for you, Grahame, when did you commence channelling Henry Bolte? :wink: :razz:
That would be Robin William Askin (aka Robert William Askin post 1971 after he changed his name deed poll).

It never hurts to have a working knowledge of politics and their history if you do not want repeat it. :roll:

Re: Free camping in VIC set to end

Posted: Sun Feb 16, 2014 2:51 pm
by Nephew
I like to think I do have a working knowledge of Australian politics, and its history, Grahame, although I admit to knowing little of Askin beyond David Marrs piece "Askin-Friend of organised crime" published back in '81. Nonetheless, my mistake, probably should have verified on Google. :oops:

Re: Free camping in VIC set to end

Posted: Sun Feb 16, 2014 10:01 pm
by GrahameA
Hi Craig.
Nephew wrote:I like to think I do have a working knowledge of Australian politics, and its history, ....
I suggest you could be better than most.