By JOHN VAN KLAVEREN
GEELONG region campers face a $30,000 fee hike if State Government goes ahead with plans to introduce charges in national parks, according to camping organisations.
Australian Campers Association (ACA) and Victorian Outdoor Providers Network (VOPN) say the new fee regime was being “rushed through”.
“This ill-conceived proposal appears to try to address an internal Parks Victoria budget shortfall with a misguided attempt at a new user pays model,” ACA chief David Petherick said.
“The proposal … seems to be focused on a maximum cash grab without an associated explanation where this money is going.”
VOPN’s Tony Pammer said the proposal threatened a levy for non-existent services.
“These are basic sites where there isn’t infrastructure and no demand for infrastructure and should remain free,” he said.
“It might put amenities where there are none, so we would see a gold-plating of basic sites. It could drive people into places where there shouldn’t be any camping.”
Environment Minister Ryan Smith’s spokesperson said the fee structure was still under assessment.
Consultations with stakeholders had pushed back the implementation from 1 March to 1 July, she said.
“The fee increase will be a modest rise, which will standardise camping fees right across the state, align the pricing to what is charged across Australia and change the system to a user-pays system.
“The current camping fee structure is not sustainable. All other states and territories, except Victoria, charge for basic camping.
“Not charging at some camping sites and charging an inconsistent amount at others means that Parks Victoria is running at an $11.3 million loss each year.”
