Time to Roam Magazine Issue 9 - June/July 2014 | Page 13

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FREE CAMPING DEBATE:
There’s room for all
I read with great interest the story in your last issue
regarding caravan parks pushing for a change
in competition laws applying to free camps.
I consider myself reasonably qualified on the matter and
can look at this ever-growing contentious issue from every
angle having worked in a caravan park, travelled more
than 70,000km towing our caravan, currently working for a
caravan dealership and have had many published articles.
Firstly, let’s look at it from the caravan park’s

point of view. As stated in the article, it costs
the owner up to $40,000 per site to set up, so
naturally they, like every business person, will want
a profit on their investment, who wouldn’t?
To do this they must compete against all other types
of accommodation whether it be motel/hotel, free camp
or another caravan park. In my opinion many caravan
parks have dropped the ball in trying to attract a narrow,
seasonal sector of the custom with luxurious cabins,
jumping pillows, Bali- style swimming pool set-ups,
games rooms and the like. This is not a criticism, purely
an observation of how caravan parks have evolved.
In heading down this track they have isolated the other
broader and longer travelled sector, the grey nomads.
What retired caravanning couple do you see jumping on
an inflated pillow or slinking around in the latest bikini
with cocktail in hand? So many powered sites have
either been replaced