QUEENSLAND Ombudsman David Bevan believes that limited caravan parking and camping on public land is sometimes acceptable.

Mr Bevan: balance

And he cites the annual exodus of southerners to the warmer climes of the Sunshine State as a prime example.

But Mr Bevan has urged councils to review their caravan park activities to ensure they do not compete directly with local private caravan park operators.

This follow complaints to his office over Barcaldine and Blackall shire councils allowing low-cost caravan parking on public land, particularly at showgrounds.

Private caravan park owners protested that while they had to pay rates and operate profitably, councils could subsidise caravan parking operations from their general funds.

"The annual influx of visitors during the peak winter tourist season is a major source of revenue for the local communities, and the councils have been anxious to ensure that visitors are encouraged to stay in the region as long as possible," Mr Bevan said.

He said that providing low cost caravan parking facilities was one way the councils had sought to achieve this.

But his office had formed the view that before engaging in commercial activities on public land or using public property, councils should consider the effect the activities could have on local businesses, particularly in remote communities.

"Councils in these situations should be careful to strike an appropriate balance between ensuring essential services are provided to residents and visitors and entering into competition with properly licensed local businesses, potentially undermining their viability," he said.

The case study - entitled Public Caravan Parks: Unfair Competition or Community Benefit? - was published in his office's latest annual report.

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