FREE CAMPING RETURNS TO VIC PARKS

[KevKim37]

No cost, no booking policy restored at basic campsites operated by Parks Victoria

Basic CAMPSITES run by Parks Victoria are now free and will again be available on a first-come, first-serve basis, as opposed to the former policy of charging an overnight fee and having to book ONLINE.

The new Victorian Labour government, which came into power in late-2014, has reversed "fees imposed under the Coalition (which) made camping expensive for families, affected school camps and buried Parks Victoria in red tape".
Described as "unfair" by Victorian Environment Minister Lisa Neville, the "USER-PAYS" SYSTEM introduced by the previous Liberal Government saw fees increase at 98 CAMPGROUNDS run by Parks Victoria, including 11 parks that were previously free.
The new rules mean campers at over 500 basic sites at over 70 CAMPGROUNDS in 19 parks throughout regional Victoria will no longer be charged a $13 overnight fee.

Under the new system, bookings for these sites will remain in place until July 1, with automatic refunds up until that date. From then on, the basic sites will be available on a first-come, first-served basis.

A basic site is defined as unserviced, with minimal ranger patrols and often no pit toilet.
There's also a chance FEE HIKES AT BETTER SERVICED CAMPSITES will be removed, with Parks Victoria being asked to "review all other camping options to make sure we are getting the balance right between affordable holidays and funding for new facilities".

"We want Victorian families to have an affordable holiday and get a chance to experience our great national parks," said Neville.

"The Coalition reduced Parks Victoria funding by $88 million since 2011, making families pay - charging them a fee for pitching a tent in a park."
I was told about this today by word of mouth from travellers who were talking to Information Centre people in Ararat and also received a call from friends in Tassie who were notified by Caravan and Camping Sales about this also. So I have copied/pasted from their site as will be interesting to see if this is correct.
Great to hear as travellers ourselves but even better for the Victorian Public who had frequented these Park camps before the ridiculous JUMP UP of Camping Prices last year.
Cheers Kev.




Published : Thursday, 2 April 2015

[Dot]

Victoria has done an abrupt about turn and reversed its controversial decision to impose camping fees at 70 basic campgrounds around the state. Read about it on The Grey Nomads website....good news story
http://thegreynomads.com.au/2015/04/fre ... nal-parks/

[Mrcoolabah1au]

Good news for all

[Kelvin12]

Bit of sanity coming back into the camping sites. Hope other states and local councils will take heed here and follow this example.

Dirk

[Jim]

Basic campsites may be free, but it looks like they may be supplemented by increased fees at others sites - eg Tidal River, Wilsons Promontory.

[Kelvin12]

SWMBO volunteers for the Urunga information centre. Commented today on how unhappy travellers were with the mid north coast lacking in reasonable priced C/P's and lack of free camps. No matter what reps are made to Bellingen council it always seems to fall on deaf ears. Talk about emu's with their heads tuck in the sand.

Dirk

[Dot]

Can someone alert the NSW "squad" and they will get it seen tooooooo!!Might be like one of "our "councillors, he has a caravan but doesn't use the loo so no need for dump points and that is the thinking of sooo many emu's

[Shirley]

Even all the Showgrounds on the mid north Coast of NSW fees have been increased.

[Shirley]

Kendall is $8.50 for one person on a powered site but jumps to $17.00 for 2 persons figure that one out?
We use to pay $7.00 unpowered & $9.00 powered for 2 persons.

[Jim]

Kendall is $8.50 for one person on a powered site but jumps to $17.00 for 2 persons figure that one out?
We use to pay $7.00 unpowered & $9.00 powered for 2 persons.

$8.50 + $8.50 = $17.00