July 2014

Online forums reach fever pitch

Park boss lashed for  free-camping stance

By Dennis Amor

A QUEENSLAND caravan park owner who is opposing council plans to open up two free camping areas has attracted an avalanche of criticism from angry travellers.

Peter Rankin, who owns the 4-star Cania Gorge Caravan and Tourist Park, a member of the BIG4 chain, with wife Jill, admits he is fighting "tooth and nail" to block any moves by North Burnett Regional Council to provide the facilities.

The council has already discussed plans to set up free camping in the centre of nearby Monto and at a popular tourist attraction in Eidsvold.

Mr Rankin's battle includes taking out a full-page advertisement in the Central & North Burnett Times, supported by more than a dozen Monto traders, in which he argues: "Why do the rich people who drive RVs worth anything from $100,000 to $500,000 need to be subsidised by ratepayers who, themselves, can't afford such vehicles and who can't afford to roam around the country on subsidies from government bodies."

The casual rate for a full-page advert in the weekly publication is $3632.

When news of the advertisement broke, online caravan forums reached fever pitch, with many outraged members attacking Mr Rankin's comments.

One "flabbergated" member wrote: "Never in the freedom of choice camping debate have we ever seen such tactics used to frighten a community into supporting one business."

The BIG4 chain has expressed concern that its logo was used in the advertisement.

Part of Mr Rankin's newspaper advertisement. Click on photo to enlarge.

But Mr Rankin told Caravanning News: "It is not the caravanners we are against – it is our governing bodies who make decisions that do not make sense."

In his advertisement, he points out that he has spent "millions of dollars" on infrastructure since buying his caravan park 10 years ago, with much of the money going to local businesses.

"We have spent literally thousands of dollars promoting our business right across Australia. Yes, we expect to be the first beneficiaries of such advertising," he wrote.

"However, every business in Monto reaps some business from our efforts.

"We have never received any acknowledgement from council for our efforts. As a matter of fact, we were never able to get any advertising material for the shire to include, at our cost, on our stands at the caravan and camping shows and other shows we regularly attend.

"When this park is busy, so is your town."

He claimed all four caravan parks managed by the regional council on behalf of ratepayers ran at a loss.

"These businesses should subsidise your rates and make life easier for all ratepayers of the shire," he said.

Mr Rankin pointed out that the council had spent over a million dollars of ratepayers' and state money on building the local RM Wiliams Centre and was now spending more on maintenance and operational costs ... money it did not have.

"Now they are going to turn it into a campground ... a million dollar free campground at your ( the ratepayers) expense."

He said the council also wanted to open a subsidised RV park in Monto.

"It is my opinion that a vote of no-confidence is in order for this council," his advertisement said.

Mr Rankin warned that if the council continued with its free camping policies and did not start to close such costly areas he would no longer support any business in the North Burnett Regional Council.

"I believe the council gives us no other choice," he said.

"Furthermore, we will now start to suggest to the people who stay with us that it would be more beneficial for them to shop in Biloela. At the moment we try to steer as many people possible to Monto.

"The council may then get a real idea of what this caravan park is worth to the business community of Monto."

Meanwhile, the Monto Magic Tourism Action Group weighed into the rumpus by announcing on it Facebook page that "the opinion of a few is not necessarily the opinion of the whole town".

One member wrote: "We cannot let the views of one man ruin it for the rest of Monto, which has always been known for its friendliness and welcoming manner towards visitors.

"The 'Welcome' mat is out to everyone."

Mr Rankin's advertisement also fired a broadside at the Campervan and Motorhome Club of Australia,  accusing it of being an "insurance/co-operative-based business" whose members' rigs were often more valuable than the normal country home.

"They want you, the mums and dads of Australia, to fund their multi-million dollar lifestyle," he said.

But CMCA chairman Vincent Moran countered by issuing a statement saying that contrary to Mr Rankin’s claims,  his members were not typically rich people who drove RVs worth between $100,000 and $500,000.

"Most are average Aussies who have worked hard throughout their lives to achieve their dream of exploring Australia in an RV of their choice," he said.

Many members regularly used caravan parks, spending more than $50 million on buying over a million nights in them each year.

But, Mr Moran said, there was a growing number of freedom campers who did not require a full-service caravan park on a daily basis.

"Self-contained RVs are a major growth trend in RV tourism and progressive caravan park owners understand this, as well as the need to adapt their business models to meet changing market demands and maintain profitability," he added.

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Monto: in line for a new free camping facility

'We had to make a stand'

THE owners of the caravan park at the centre of the furore admit they themselves have enjoyed free camping.

Mr Rankin's wife Jill told Caravanning News they had owned a caravan for many years and had travelled extensively throughout Australia.

"We are caravanners," she said.

"We have free-camped in isolated areas such as Salvadore Rosa (Carnarvon Gorge), Innaminka and more.

"We are not against free camping in such places.

"But when we are within the limits of a town we always stay in a caravan park.

"When our council decided to open a free/subsidised (though who is going to collect these subsidies we do not know) camp area in the centre of Monto we felt we had to take a stand."

Mrs Rankin pointed out that there were already numerous free campsites throughout the area.

"So why do we need another in the main street of our town, which has the potential to affect three longstanding businesses – the caravan parks," she said.

"To survive, small towns need permanent infrastructure and families living and working there.

"We can see what has happened to so many small towns such as ours now that the railways, banks, sawmills etc have gone. They have all gone backwards.

"Travellers and caravanners do contribute something, but not to the extent of permanent residents.

"All three caravan parks contribute 12 months of the year to our town."

Mrs Rankin said the local newsagent had posted a message on Facebook alleging businesses had been "blackmailed" into putting their names to the newspaper advertisement.

"We did no such thing. Those businesses ‒ like us – did not see the need for a camping area in the main street.

"Is our newsagent going to give out free newspapers and magazines? I don’t think so.

"Is the council going to give out free bread, milk and meat also?"

She said the Campervan and Motorhome Club of Australia approached councils and demanded free or cheap campsites with water and dump points for their members.

"If this is not forthcoming they allude to the fact that they will boycott the town. Is this not blackmail?

"We have written to the CMCA offering their members cheaper sites at our caravan park but they have never replied."

Mrs Rankin questioned why ratepayers should have to subsidise the council's non-profit-making caravan parks.

"Rates are supposed to be for essential services not to prop up failed businesses," she said.

"We also note the BIG4 entry on Facebook.

"We are sorry they have decided to be fence-sitters on this issue and not support us.

"Our park has been in the BIG4 chain for at least 15 years and we personally pay thousands of dollars to them each month for membership.

"Very disappointing."