Families fear council camping price rise
‘‘Camping is the most affordable option for families, once you start messing with that ...’’ Camper Leah Greenwood
A price increase at a Christchurch campground could put the traditional Kiwi holiday out of reach for some families, campers warn.
Christchurch City Council is considering introducing a new pricing model based on season and availability at its Spencer Beach Holiday Park.
The move would see prices increase 25 per cent on average during peak times of the year, but some charges could increase by more than 50 per cent and in one case as much as 88 per cent.
A powered site at the camping ground costs $16 per adult and the council is proposing new charges of between $17 and $30, an increase of between 6 per cent and 88 per cent. The cost for two adults staying at a powered site would increase from $32, to between $34 and $40, an increase of between 6 per cent and 25 per cent.
A non-powered site for an adult would go from $15 to between $16 and $25, an increase of 7 per cent to 67 per cent. Two adults at a non-powered site would rise from $30 to between $32 and $38.
Children’s prices would increase by up to $2 a night from $8 to $10 at peak times.
Leah Greenwood, who was camping at the holiday park with her husband and two children, said the price increase would affect single parents the most.
Many families went camping because it was an affordable holiday option, but the increases could price some people out of the camping market, she said. ‘‘It affects different families more than others. Camping is the most affordable option for families, once you start messing with that . . .’’
The increases have been proposed in the council’s draft annual plan.
Council acting recreation, sports and events head David Bailey said if the proposed fees were accepted, they would be 11 per cent lower than the holiday park industry average at the highest peak season price.
‘‘This increase would maintain the camp at the entry level of the market compared to the industry averages.’’
The lower rate would apply to the off season and the upper rate at the peak of summer during the Christmas holidays.
But the council would not provide exact dates for when the low-season and high-season charges would apply. Bailey said the dates and rates would be established throughout the year in response to a range of factors including maintenance work, demand and holiday periods.
He said there was no set period for lower prices because the pricing was ‘‘dynamic’’. ‘‘This pricing model is common within the holiday park industry, which has a small window of peak demand.’’
The park hosts almost half its annual visitors between November and March, notching up 33,727 guest nights this season. It was projecting 70,000 guest nights for the year.
Bailey said the park had not had a price increase for six years.
Janine Merrylees, who was camping at Spencer Beach with her family over the weekend, said she did not think the facilities at the park warranted an increase in fees.
‘‘It probably won’t stop us coming but we might look at options before we decide.’’
Catherine Cane, who was camping with her husband and three children, said she would probably pay the increase because they only stayed at the park once a year, but they were already paying so much considering they brought their own accommodation with them. The increase would see her family paying $70 a night in peak times, up from $56 a night.