By JOHN VAN KLAVEREN
New fees to camp in national parks will force caravans and campers to find alternatives, local enthusiasts have warned.
Teesdale off-roaders Shirley and Geoff Wild said they were mystified why State Government would hike fees for camping in areas without facilities.
“We have everything in our van. We are self-sufficient, we use solar power, we have a generator, our own toilet,” Mrs Wild said.
“We often go to camping areas where there are no facilities and we’re happy to pay anything up to $10 a van a night but if it gets over the $20 mark we’ll be looking for somewhere else.”
Mrs Wild said about a third of Geelong Caravan Club members were off-roaders who would feel the same way.
She said most off-roaders respected camping sites and left them neat.
“If we’re self-sufficient why are we paying $20 or more? It just adds to cost of a holiday.
“We enjoy travelling from one place to another and if we have to stick to a booking system we can’t be adventurous and go where we want to go.”
Environment Minister Ryan Smith has announced a 1 July start for the new fees and an online booking system for Victoria’s national, state and coastal parks and reserves.
He said Victoria’s 680 camping grounds in parks and reserves cost a significant amount of money to operate and maintain each year.
“These costs need to be recovered so we can continue to maintain facilities and services to an appropriate standard.”
The new fees start at $13.50, with a $10 booking fee.
Australian Country Alliance senate candidate and former Anglesea retailer Gary Kerr said the new fees were close to the cost of fully serviced camping sites.
“This is almost a way of getting people out of the parks. We don’t support this increase without the investment to warrant the rise.
“Our grey nomads just want to enjoy an affordable retirement motoring around the countryside with their caravan. This decision has infuriated caravanning and other community clubs.
“How’s it going to be enforced? Many of these places are remote with no mobile reception.”
