CARAVAN parks in Australia have copped a pounding from members of a
major on-line forum.
Forumites have accused inconsiderate park owners of wilfully spoiling
their peace and quiet, and ripping them off during peak holiday periods.
Their angry outburst on the 2500-member
caravanners' forum was sparked
by a disgruntled traveller who complained of being disturbed by an
early-morning lawnmower at a Sunshine Coast caravan park in Queensland.
And his posting triggered an avalanche of replies, with more than 1200
members logging into the discussion.
Writing under the name Vanlea, the irate caravanner explained how
his peace and quiet had been ruined when a gardener at the council-run
park between Maroochydore and Marcoola fired up his mower at 7am and
continued mowing near his caravan for 45 minutes.
"The school holidays had finished and we were looking forward to some
quiet time," Vanlea wrote. "So we rang the management who came to
our 'van to tell us it was legal to start work at 7am.
"One of the rules on a sign at the entrance to the park states: 'Be
considerate of other campers'. Where was the management's consideration to
those of us still in that park?"
Vanlea claimed the gardener's attitude next day was to
"sarcastically" ask whether watering the lawns was going to cause a
problem.
"We rarely sleep past 7am, love daylight saving, have seen numerous
sunrises in our travels and far prefer listening to the very early
cacophony of birds than a lawnmower," Vanlea added.
Forum member ChrisVal7 sympathised, replying: "A bit of courtesy
and consideration of others goes a long way.
"How would they like it if you started making a racket outside their
bedroom at 7am? You can tell they really don't understand the needs of the
travelling public or 'vanners in particular. A 'van does not have thick
walls to keep out that sort of noise."
But Colcam423 wondered whether it was problem throughout south-east
Queensland, explaining: "No daylight saving so people are awoken by the
sun at 5am ... might as well be up doing something."
Steve suggested a solution. "One of the best bits of PR I have ever
seen in a caravan park was a groundsman approaching us the day before he
was going to work around our 'van to let us know. It cost him nothing and
made all the difference to us."
Auspom reminded travellers, particularly retirees, that jobs had to
be done.
"If you enjoy a park that is well maintained then I imagine one morning's
grass cutting at 7am is a small price to pay for sitting out and admiring
what has been done around you for your own enjoyment.
"Although having said that, it does not excuse this gardener's attitude."
Meanwhile, forum member Kathy blasted parks who squeezed every last
dollar out of travellers by taking advantage of popular holiday seasons.
"How a powered site can go from $32 today to $59 in January just doesn't
seem right to me," she said.
Fellow member Wanderer believed he had an explanation.
"Unfortunately it's a one way street, a case of supply and demand ... they
supply AND demand," he said.
Droversdog waded into the discussion by adding: "A rip-off, but
with holiday pay and overtime etc it costs more to have workers during
holidays, so the rates go up ... with a bit extra for the hell of it.
"Bugs me too, but there's nothing you can do except go somewhere else or
some other time, which is ok for retired blokes like me but not a lot of
help for those with kids on school hols."
NomadicNarava suggested it was called "rationing".
"This only happens in the coastal parks and those along waterways. Most of
the country parks have the same rates all year or alternately don't give
you the seventh night free in peak times," he said.
