NSWNP have your say

[robcaz]

Hi all,

If you camp in NSW National Parks you would have no doubt received an email outlining the proposed changes by NSWNP & a chance to have your say.

Firstly cost. A proposed six tier camping cost based on what facilities are available in the campground. Tier two with minimal facilities to tier six that have camp kitchens, shower blocks & hot water. NSWNP state that around 86% of campgrounds would be in tiers 2–5.

Also a price increase during peak times. NSWNP suggest that most campgrounds would be available at the low season fee for the majority of the year. Peak season is around 90 days of the year.

We meet a lot of people travelling by themselves, as do our members. Under the proposal there is no lower cost fee for single campers in the higher tier campgrounds, however there is no extra charges for additional people. As the fees stand now they usually cover two people & all others are an added cost. A standard site will now accommodate up to 6 people including 4 adults.

A bigger incentivise for people to cancel bookings when plans change with up to 80% of fees returned as a credit or refund if they cancel at least three days before. We have not been able to get into a campground when booking a few days ahead as it was booked out & when we have arrived on the Monday we have been told there was only a couple there. It had rained so no one had turned up & forfeited the $24 a night camping fee. No big deal loosing $50 for a weekend camping in the rain, however we all do not just camp on weekends.

You can read more at https://www.haveyoursay.nsw.gov.au/camping which also includes a link to the proposed changes & also a link to the have your say form.

We mostly use the minimum facilities bush national parks when travelling, along with state forests & showgrounds. One of our biggest peeves apart from those that leave rubbish, are those who sneak into camp before dark & leave early to avoid camping fees, even at the low cost sites. They are easy to pick as they usually drive the circuit twice. They used to be backpackers in their whizzbang vans, but now it is those who own $250,000 + rigs. If approached you get a mouthful of abuse.

[Us & The Dogs]

Yeah I am a bit late to the party on this, I have been on an around OZ, bicycle tour for the last 9 mths, took one of my dogs with me in his trailer, really enjoyed it, so on the tour, I did not use Nat. Park Camps as I had my dog with me, but I did stay in Nat. parks, because I couldn't get out of the park in time before nitefall as I was journeying thru big parks on 3 occasions.

As we normally camp with our dogs, or I do, with the car and/ or pushbike/motorbike, it doesn't affect me at all, but as I am a smoker, if I don't take a dog, I am still not allowed to use a Nat. Park, because you are not allowed to smoke in them.

I am not happy with the new system of booking in advance on the net, as I have heard of horror stories, of people arriving to camp, and their site is taken, because the whole place is booked out, but nobody is there, so campers just rocking up ( like we did in the old days); take the booked site. We will never use the National Parks ever again due to having to book online, ( we want to be able just to rock up at any park, pay our money into the envelope and use the site the way it was in the old days) and the last time we used one was in 05'. The reason why they have moved to this booking system is, they cut 2 thirds of the rangers jobs, so their is hardly a ranger around regularly to take the money and/or clean up the park. On my tour the amount of remote Nat. Parks I came across that had rubbish, toilet paper, trees cut down for firewood, just generally disgusting was discerning, so obviously the fees are not going back to parks like before, and their is no staff to do that work anymore.

[Us & The Dogs]

Furthermore, the fees are too high, so the low income/pensioners etc, will not be able to afford it, hikers and children included, wanting a night or 3 in a park on a hike, will find the fees too high. Us personally we are low to middle income, and we would prefer free camping, or staying in a c.van park for power, at the same cost of non powered Nat. Parks sites, I can see a severe loss of income becoming the norm for Australian National Parks, and then they will look more to tourist industries to be involved to raise funds again at the detriment to loss of patronage from the general public who should be allowed to stay in these parks at more reasonable prices.