NEW CO$T TO FREE CAMPING
TOWNSVILLE City Council has proposed charging campers a fee to stay at six of the council-run campgrounds north of the city.
The new council RV strategy proposes introducing a fee to cover the running costs and upkeep of facilities such as toilets, rubbish bins and potable water.
Adventurous Townsville retiree Al Toombs, 75, built Good Times – a boat that doubles as a caravan – and he plans on travelling south to the Sandy Straits and stopping where he can to wet a line.
He says charging makes sense but believed the proposed $10-$15 was too high.
“You can stay at a caravan site with better facilities for $20-$25 (a night),” he said.
“Some places charge $5. I think that’s much better.” Mr Toombs has been travelling since he retired and stops at a range of free campsites and other private sites. He said free sites did attract travellers to the city.
“I think the free parking is good for travelling people because they do spend money,” Mr Toombs said.
“I think the longer the travellers stay here the more money they will spend.”
The strategy states that continuing to operate the Saunders Beach, Bluewater Park, Toomulla Park, Vincent ‘Bushy’ Parker Park, Balgal Beach and Justin St Park sites free of charge was “not sustainable”.
It was recommended the council introduce a fee, collected through an online booking system.
Mark Humphreys, who has been travelling around Townsville for more than nine years, said he would head elsewhere if the council introduced the charge.
“I don’t use the internet, so I won’t be able to book (a site),” Mr Humphreys said.
“I think there will be a fraction of the people staying there. People enjoy coming and going without having to book. There seems like there is an element of the council who don’t like camping.”
Other campers said some of the facilities, particularly near the Bluewater Park site, were used by locals and should be covered by rates.
The council argued introducing a fee would not have a significant impact on occupancy rates.
“While a small proportion of travellers prefer to only stay in free sites, the majority of travellers are willing to pay a small fee to contribute to the upkeep of facilities … which are provided at all council campgrounds,” the strategy says.
“A fee would also assist to encourage travellers to use the online booking system, making enforcement of overcrowding and overstaying easier.” Consultation is open until March 9. The strategy is at haveyoursay.townsville.qld.gov.au/recreational-vehicle-rv-strategy.