CARAVANNERS have welcomed news that entry fees to Victoria's national
and metropolitan parks are being scrapped.
The State Government has decided to axe the charges from July 1 ... to
encourage people to become more active while enjoying the great outdoors.
Premier John Brumby revealed the move during the opening of the
international Healthy Parks Healthy People Congress at the Melbourne
Convention and Exhibition Centre.
He told delegates that the health benefits for people getting out and
exploring the natural world "far outweighed the benefits of collecting
entry fees from parks".
"Parks Victoria estimates that removing entry fees will increase visitor
numbers by 25 percent to 50 percent at most sites," he said.
National parks affected include Wilsons Promontory, Mount Buffalo, Baw Baw,
Mornington Peninsula, Yarra Ranges (Mount Donna Buang) and Point Nepean as
well as Werribee Park, Coolart, National Rhododendron Gardens and William
Ricketts Sanctuary metropolitan parks.
Environment and Climate Change Minister Gavin Jennings said helping people
gain easier access to the state’s national parks was important for their
health and wellbeing.
"Tens of millions of people enjoy our parks each year so making them more
accessible will mean Victoria is an even better place to live, work and
raise a family," he said.
He also said while there were overwhelming benefits to the community from
encouraging more people to visit parks, there were costs involved in
providing the necessary services and infrastructure.
"To ensure that we continue to fund parks' sustainability in the future, we
will conduct a review of all the revenue streams and costs associated with
park management, including tourism and recreational activities, weeds and
pest control and essential infrastructure," he added.
Caravanner Marion Whitehouse told Caravanning News she was happy
entrance fees were being abolished.
"It's getting more and more expensive being on the road in a caravan these
days, what with the cost of fuel and rising caravan park fees. It's a
relief to hear that at least we won't have to pay to visit the state's
national parks ... which should never have had entrance fees anyway
because they belong to the people."
And while applauding news that fees would be axed, another caravanner on
the online Touring Oz website was
a little cynical.
He wrote: "I wonder if camping fees may rise a tad to offset this. A
friend of mine who camps in parks all over Australia is furious with some
states who want an entrance fee daily, even though he is staying for three
or four days."
Another observed: "It could be that the abolition of national park entry
fees may be a move in the right direction. Once there were neither entry
or camping fees in national parks, but then the era of 'user pays' came
along.
"Let's hope this Victorian idea spreads north over the border."
