Have
your say
CARAVANNERS are fuming after news that they must now pay for
overnighting at what was once a free camping area in Tasmania.
Orford Trianbunna Chamber of Commerce has announced that it is now
managing Pioneer Park on the island's east coast.
This follows a new short-term licence agreement negotiated with the Crown
Land Department and the Trianbunna Caravan Park.
Travellers now have to cough up $10 a night, with proceeds going to a
community fund to benefit local projects and groups.
In a statement, chamber president Dale Pearce said it had continually
worked to encourage tourism in the area, and managing the camping area
would result in "excellent community benefits".
He stressed that caravans would need to have their own toilet "which
should solve some of the problems that have previously occurred".
The chamber acknowledged that "a few" businesses and individuals were
concerned by the council not offering free camping.
"But the council's role is not to compete with existing rate-paying
businesses by offering free services, hence the present situation," Mr
Pearce said.
But caravanners were unimpressed.
"They are simply driving tourists away," warned Tony Hill, from New South
Wales.
"It already costs an arm and a leg to get to Tasmania from the mainland
without taking away the free camping areas on which many budget minded
travellers rely."
Meanwhile, one member of Australia's biggest online
caravanners' forum said it was
reaching the stage where there would be no incentive at all to visit
Tasmania.
"All the local businesses I have spoken to are up in arms with this
development as they believe they will lose tourist numbers," he wrote.
"Triabunna is a lovely town and it is a pity to see this happening."
Other members thought the new charge was reasonable.
