Staying at the Showgrounds allows the ag society to collect some extra income for thr good of the community it may be cheaper but it also does not provide the same facilities. The caravan park should not have a monopoly in the town with the other park facilities being way outat the caves and very expensive. Allow the application to succeed, the traveling puplic will decide where they would rather stay.
Help the community not the private bank accounts.
Rod - 9 years ago
We have stayed at the Naracoorte Caravan Park for periods of a week and sometimes ten days over a period of seven years, since my retirement. It was always something we looked forward to until September last year; that was when we came across the most arrogant manager we had ever met during our forty years of caravanning.
The new managers claim to have a dog friendly park now, that is not the case because when we wanted to stay with our tiny Maltese we were told that the only site we could have was behind the ablution block ( which is full of prickles etc),. When I asked if we could walk the dog through the caravan park to the walking trail, the answer was no, I was told we had to go through the fence at the rear of said sites and walk along the road, down to the walking track. We decided to go to the Showground campsite (for the first time ever) and this is where we always go now when we visit our friends in Naracoorte. Mick and Marj Sanderson were the consummate caravan park proprietors and allowed us to leave our caravan in the park for an extended period over the fire season as, we live in a fire prone area in the Adelaide Hills.
When I asked the new proprietors regarding this matter, the cost had doubled. I also organised for my retired Emergency Services caravan group to come to Naracoorte on two previous occasions (for a week) prior to that fateful September day. When I told the proprietor that that would no longer happen, he just laughed, so much for business acumen. We will continue to visit your beautiful town but, will patronize the Showground campsite and not the Caravan Park. I'll bet that if others get the same reception that we did, they will do the same. We will continue to support the local economy as, we have over the past thirty years. Man,many country towns throughout Australia have Showground camping so, why not Naracoorte. I wish the Showground committee, all the best in there application.
Mark - 9 years ago
My wife and I are retired and spend months each your in our 5th wheel caravan we follow routes where there are RV friendly towns and spend our money there. Caravan parks like Naracoorte Holiday park will not miss out on our business because well will never stay intheir caravan parks but will come if there is a low cost option.
If the showgrounds is not given this permit it is the business in the town that will miss out
For many of us it is about cost for others it is about lifestyle, for most of us it is both.
We have worked hard all our lives and now we need to get the most for our money.
Having travelled Australia several times we find it is in the low cost and free camps we meet the nicest people, from pensioners to multi millionaire's but out there we are all equal, just enjoying the best Australia has to offer.
So the real question is do you want us gray hair nomads to come or not?
Muddy - 9 years ago
If the caravan parks selfish lobby were successful in closing down free and low cost options in Australia is a
They are trying to do,
It would close the whole industry down as it would no longer be viable for us gray hairs to purchase caravans and motorhomes for our retirement. We would have to stay home and sit by the fire like our parents and grandparents before us.
That is how stupid and selfish the caravan park lobby is.
We Travel - 9 years ago
Over it...... "The vote should only be for locals" are you for real ? Then maybe only locals should use the caravan park,
the people who are voting are people that travel and would like a choice before deciding if to stay in town or not and it does not matter what any group or club advisers it's members they will vote the way they want to...... I still can't beleive what you said!
Over it - 9 years ago
This vote is totally screwed by the fact the largest Motorhome group in Australia is advising their members to vote against Caravan Parks in this poll.
The Vote should only be for locals
Leonie - 9 years ago
Caravan Parks generally follow the business model of trying to attract families for a 2 or 3 week stay. Cabins, jumping pillows, playgrounds, pirate pools, bike hire are all aimed toward this. But this does not suit most grey nomads and retirees who may be months on the road, and are fast becoming one of the most significant travelling groups. So Caravan Park Lobbies are trying to get Councils to force retirees to accept and finance their business model with extortionate fees on sites which are surely subsidising unused cabins and facilities. We have been quoted up to $104 per night for a powered site for 3. Up to $15 for a third person - for what? - a bit of extra shower water. You guessed it. It was in the Geelong area where Caravan Parks have been very effective in having cheaper competition shut down. As older retirees with a disabled son, we do not want jumping castles, pirate pools, footballs landing in our lunch, bikes and skateboards set like bear-traps outside toilets, children riding at speed around the park usually looking backwards at their slower mates, and listening for the crack of a cricket ball on willow for fear it will it us on the back of the head. Nor do we want to wait for an hour, for children using the showers as warm playgrounds. Despite park rules we have suffered all these things, and complaining has resulted in us being treated like trouble-makers. We just want a quiet and attractive place to sit, relax and admire the view. Toilets, showers and Laundry can be useful on occasion too. Caravan Parks don't suit many grey nomads, and competition which satisfies this market should be encouraged and applauded for the greater benefit of the wider business community. For when we travel, we need fuel, groceries, hardware, mechanical service and repairs, clothing, footware, medics, dinners, takeaways, entertainment, tourist venues etc etc etc.
Leonie - 9 years ago
Caravan Parks have gone with the
Rob - 9 years ago
I have a tiny, but fully self-contained, Leave No Trace Campervan. For convenience we stay at Caravan Parks perhaps one in three nights, and use their better facilities. But they are too expensive for the service I want and need, and I will not be owned or dictated to, and have my stopovers planned by Caravan Parks. Caravan parks have installed cabins to compete with motels without conscience, and now clamour for Council protection against people voting with their feet for other forms of accommodation. I will bypass towns and areas where councils demand I use any business I do not want. Caravan parks will benefit from the business of most travellers on occasion, but they are not content with that. They want it all, and where they get it, their prices go through the roof and other businesses suffer A showground is simply competition in action. If caravan parks want my business they will have to satisfy my needs at a price I consider reasonable. That is private enterprise.
Laurens - 9 years ago
Talking to someone yesterday who tells me he was asked to pay $68 a night for a van park in WA...
Work that out per week or per year...
Id rather spend that on fuel, meals, groceries, entertainment, sightseeing, repairs, new tyres, registration, or mobile internet access, but not just hand it over for one night parking..
The paying travellers are voting with their wallets, by all means stay in the business of overpriced caravan parks but stop complaining about working hard in a lousy business, its your choice
gypsy - 9 years ago
Being big rig and fully self contained, I would be interested in the price and access, of both businesses. We have 9mtre motor home and 3mtre car trailer. So what's the fee for the showground and caravan park. I would then make my decision.
Bill van Riet - 9 years ago
I agree with most of the above comments, we choose when we want to use a caravan park.
However low cost camping for self contained vehicles is a must for any community that wants tourists.
Those communities that offer this service eg Home Hill in Queensland would have died if not for free and or low cost camping.
Home Hill is now thriving.
We the traveling public will choose and bypass those towns that do not offer this service.
Dawn Powell - 9 years ago
I say awesome idea for showgrounds to be another alternative. Give people a choice. All finances are different. When we don't pay for sites in parks we are more inclined and in a position to spend money at other businesses. We stayed at the show grounds in Naracoorte 6 weeks ago for 4 days. We saved the difference betweeen their rate and the tourist park which enabled us to do a $200 food shop in Foodland before we left. We also spent $44 in the toy shop. More businesses will benefit if the traveler has the option.
Deb - 9 years ago
We do not want or need the services of a caravan park. If there is somewhere else we can stay, eg. showground or free camp, then we will stop and do some shopping in small locally owned businesses. If the only place to stay is a caravan park, we will simply head to the next town to stay. All businesses in town should be doing what they can to attract more customers/clients and if that means camping at the showground, then I think that is a good thing.
Perhaps the caravan park could get friendly with the showground operators and have them refer people to the caravan park, if they are not happy with the service provided at the showground... and these people do exist. We have seen many caravanners drive into a free camp/showground and decide they want something more, and headed to the caravan park. There will always be people who would not stay anywhere but a caravan park.
There are also people who want free/low cost camping areas and if business is smart, they will give the people what they want.
Darrell Hendry - 9 years ago
As full time travellers on a pension, we, like many others, have no interest in paying the exorbitant fees asked by caravan parks. We are fully self contained with no need for amenities, power or mains pressure water supply. Definitely no need for swimming pools, jumping castles or the other gimmicks caravan parks use to attract holiday makers. In a way, caravan parks are their own, and their towns, worst enemy with regard to grey nomads. If they were to provide a secure level parking site with no facilities at a minimal fee, say $10/night then many grey nomads would not only stay there but would also be spending money in the town. Where no such cheap or free camping facilities exist the both the caravan park and the town miss out as the majority of grey nomads simply bypass the town entirely.
Constantly amazed when we read stories like this with parks complaining bitterly about competition. If you read the press releases from their own association it appear the the industry is doing very well. To quote from a recent one which has been syndicated in numerous papers. This one from the Gladstone paper
"FREE wheelin' holiday-makers are driving up caravan and campervan sales in Gladstone and putting more money in business' pockets.
Registrations of these vehicles increased 8.4% across the region last year.
The city is home to 2381 mobile holiday homes, an increase of 184 on 2013.
Caravan Industry Association of Australia chief executive officer Stuart Lamont said regional and rural areas were the biggest winners from the increase.
"We are in a boom at present - and this flows through suppliers, manufacturers, retailers and caravan parks," Mr Lamont said.
"But what is most important is that 90% of all activity is in regional Australia.
"About $17.44 billion is the estimated size of contribution to the Australian economy by caravanning and camping, and many regional centres receive welcome money from the expenditure conducted by caravanners and campers as they explore the country."
Lynn - 9 years ago
It's like the local Baker saying we can't buy our bread at Coles or Woolies as they sell their bread cheaper than the Bakers. And it's taking away their livelihood.
vivienne kempson - 9 years ago
We don't stay at Caravan Parks ever so the Caravan Park wont be missing my dollars as I never stay in Caravan Parks and I am not the only one. Generally speaking most people that stay in the showgrounds around the country are Grey Nomads with self contained rigs, if the Showgrounds or other alternative stays are not available they will bypass the town and go to a RV friendly town robbing other traders of much needed custom.
Trevor - 9 years ago
We have a fully self contained motorhome. We seldom stay in caravan parks as they do not offer us anything we don't already have. These parks are NOT entitled to the monopoly they so desperately crave. They have to accept opposition as do Coles, Woolworth etc etc. The Caravan Park lobby ( yes it is a lobby group ) is attempting to close every free and low cost camp site in Australia. This lobby is fast becoming hated by the RV travellers, and will NEVER achieve this goal. A majority of RV folk just bypass non RV Friendly Towns and unfortunately it is the local treders that miss out. Just back from 5 weeks in m/home , total accom. was $58.00 !! Naracoorte Council, DON'T be conned.So much more could be said !!
Peter - 9 years ago
Sorry, but you are totally incorrect in your article..we at the Naracoorte holiday park do have more than sufficient spaces and facilities to also accommodate RV's of any size. So Yes we do allow and accommodate RV's etc into our holiday park.
Staying at the Showgrounds allows the ag society to collect some extra income for thr good of the community it may be cheaper but it also does not provide the same facilities. The caravan park should not have a monopoly in the town with the other park facilities being way outat the caves and very expensive. Allow the application to succeed, the traveling puplic will decide where they would rather stay.
Help the community not the private bank accounts.
We have stayed at the Naracoorte Caravan Park for periods of a week and sometimes ten days over a period of seven years, since my retirement. It was always something we looked forward to until September last year; that was when we came across the most arrogant manager we had ever met during our forty years of caravanning.
The new managers claim to have a dog friendly park now, that is not the case because when we wanted to stay with our tiny Maltese we were told that the only site we could have was behind the ablution block ( which is full of prickles etc),. When I asked if we could walk the dog through the caravan park to the walking trail, the answer was no, I was told we had to go through the fence at the rear of said sites and walk along the road, down to the walking track. We decided to go to the Showground campsite (for the first time ever) and this is where we always go now when we visit our friends in Naracoorte. Mick and Marj Sanderson were the consummate caravan park proprietors and allowed us to leave our caravan in the park for an extended period over the fire season as, we live in a fire prone area in the Adelaide Hills.
When I asked the new proprietors regarding this matter, the cost had doubled. I also organised for my retired Emergency Services caravan group to come to Naracoorte on two previous occasions (for a week) prior to that fateful September day. When I told the proprietor that that would no longer happen, he just laughed, so much for business acumen. We will continue to visit your beautiful town but, will patronize the Showground campsite and not the Caravan Park. I'll bet that if others get the same reception that we did, they will do the same. We will continue to support the local economy as, we have over the past thirty years. Man,many country towns throughout Australia have Showground camping so, why not Naracoorte. I wish the Showground committee, all the best in there application.
My wife and I are retired and spend months each your in our 5th wheel caravan we follow routes where there are RV friendly towns and spend our money there. Caravan parks like Naracoorte Holiday park will not miss out on our business because well will never stay intheir caravan parks but will come if there is a low cost option.
If the showgrounds is not given this permit it is the business in the town that will miss out
For many of us it is about cost for others it is about lifestyle, for most of us it is both.
We have worked hard all our lives and now we need to get the most for our money.
Having travelled Australia several times we find it is in the low cost and free camps we meet the nicest people, from pensioners to multi millionaire's but out there we are all equal, just enjoying the best Australia has to offer.
So the real question is do you want us gray hair nomads to come or not?
If the caravan parks selfish lobby were successful in closing down free and low cost options in Australia is a
They are trying to do,
It would close the whole industry down as it would no longer be viable for us gray hairs to purchase caravans and motorhomes for our retirement. We would have to stay home and sit by the fire like our parents and grandparents before us.
That is how stupid and selfish the caravan park lobby is.
Over it...... "The vote should only be for locals" are you for real ? Then maybe only locals should use the caravan park,
the people who are voting are people that travel and would like a choice before deciding if to stay in town or not and it does not matter what any group or club advisers it's members they will vote the way they want to...... I still can't beleive what you said!
This vote is totally screwed by the fact the largest Motorhome group in Australia is advising their members to vote against Caravan Parks in this poll.
The Vote should only be for locals
Caravan Parks generally follow the business model of trying to attract families for a 2 or 3 week stay. Cabins, jumping pillows, playgrounds, pirate pools, bike hire are all aimed toward this. But this does not suit most grey nomads and retirees who may be months on the road, and are fast becoming one of the most significant travelling groups. So Caravan Park Lobbies are trying to get Councils to force retirees to accept and finance their business model with extortionate fees on sites which are surely subsidising unused cabins and facilities. We have been quoted up to $104 per night for a powered site for 3. Up to $15 for a third person - for what? - a bit of extra shower water. You guessed it. It was in the Geelong area where Caravan Parks have been very effective in having cheaper competition shut down. As older retirees with a disabled son, we do not want jumping castles, pirate pools, footballs landing in our lunch, bikes and skateboards set like bear-traps outside toilets, children riding at speed around the park usually looking backwards at their slower mates, and listening for the crack of a cricket ball on willow for fear it will it us on the back of the head. Nor do we want to wait for an hour, for children using the showers as warm playgrounds. Despite park rules we have suffered all these things, and complaining has resulted in us being treated like trouble-makers. We just want a quiet and attractive place to sit, relax and admire the view. Toilets, showers and Laundry can be useful on occasion too. Caravan Parks don't suit many grey nomads, and competition which satisfies this market should be encouraged and applauded for the greater benefit of the wider business community. For when we travel, we need fuel, groceries, hardware, mechanical service and repairs, clothing, footware, medics, dinners, takeaways, entertainment, tourist venues etc etc etc.
Caravan Parks have gone with the
I have a tiny, but fully self-contained, Leave No Trace Campervan. For convenience we stay at Caravan Parks perhaps one in three nights, and use their better facilities. But they are too expensive for the service I want and need, and I will not be owned or dictated to, and have my stopovers planned by Caravan Parks. Caravan parks have installed cabins to compete with motels without conscience, and now clamour for Council protection against people voting with their feet for other forms of accommodation. I will bypass towns and areas where councils demand I use any business I do not want. Caravan parks will benefit from the business of most travellers on occasion, but they are not content with that. They want it all, and where they get it, their prices go through the roof and other businesses suffer A showground is simply competition in action. If caravan parks want my business they will have to satisfy my needs at a price I consider reasonable. That is private enterprise.
Talking to someone yesterday who tells me he was asked to pay $68 a night for a van park in WA...
Work that out per week or per year...
Id rather spend that on fuel, meals, groceries, entertainment, sightseeing, repairs, new tyres, registration, or mobile internet access, but not just hand it over for one night parking..
The paying travellers are voting with their wallets, by all means stay in the business of overpriced caravan parks but stop complaining about working hard in a lousy business, its your choice
Being big rig and fully self contained, I would be interested in the price and access, of both businesses. We have 9mtre motor home and 3mtre car trailer. So what's the fee for the showground and caravan park. I would then make my decision.
I agree with most of the above comments, we choose when we want to use a caravan park.
However low cost camping for self contained vehicles is a must for any community that wants tourists.
Those communities that offer this service eg Home Hill in Queensland would have died if not for free and or low cost camping.
Home Hill is now thriving.
We the traveling public will choose and bypass those towns that do not offer this service.
I say awesome idea for showgrounds to be another alternative. Give people a choice. All finances are different. When we don't pay for sites in parks we are more inclined and in a position to spend money at other businesses. We stayed at the show grounds in Naracoorte 6 weeks ago for 4 days. We saved the difference betweeen their rate and the tourist park which enabled us to do a $200 food shop in Foodland before we left. We also spent $44 in the toy shop. More businesses will benefit if the traveler has the option.
We do not want or need the services of a caravan park. If there is somewhere else we can stay, eg. showground or free camp, then we will stop and do some shopping in small locally owned businesses. If the only place to stay is a caravan park, we will simply head to the next town to stay. All businesses in town should be doing what they can to attract more customers/clients and if that means camping at the showground, then I think that is a good thing.
Perhaps the caravan park could get friendly with the showground operators and have them refer people to the caravan park, if they are not happy with the service provided at the showground... and these people do exist. We have seen many caravanners drive into a free camp/showground and decide they want something more, and headed to the caravan park. There will always be people who would not stay anywhere but a caravan park.
There are also people who want free/low cost camping areas and if business is smart, they will give the people what they want.
As full time travellers on a pension, we, like many others, have no interest in paying the exorbitant fees asked by caravan parks. We are fully self contained with no need for amenities, power or mains pressure water supply. Definitely no need for swimming pools, jumping castles or the other gimmicks caravan parks use to attract holiday makers. In a way, caravan parks are their own, and their towns, worst enemy with regard to grey nomads. If they were to provide a secure level parking site with no facilities at a minimal fee, say $10/night then many grey nomads would not only stay there but would also be spending money in the town. Where no such cheap or free camping facilities exist the both the caravan park and the town miss out as the majority of grey nomads simply bypass the town entirely.
Constantly amazed when we read stories like this with parks complaining bitterly about competition. If you read the press releases from their own association it appear the the industry is doing very well. To quote from a recent one which has been syndicated in numerous papers. This one from the Gladstone paper
"FREE wheelin' holiday-makers are driving up caravan and campervan sales in Gladstone and putting more money in business' pockets.
Registrations of these vehicles increased 8.4% across the region last year.
The city is home to 2381 mobile holiday homes, an increase of 184 on 2013.
Caravan Industry Association of Australia chief executive officer Stuart Lamont said regional and rural areas were the biggest winners from the increase.
"We are in a boom at present - and this flows through suppliers, manufacturers, retailers and caravan parks," Mr Lamont said.
"But what is most important is that 90% of all activity is in regional Australia.
"About $17.44 billion is the estimated size of contribution to the Australian economy by caravanning and camping, and many regional centres receive welcome money from the expenditure conducted by caravanners and campers as they explore the country."
It's like the local Baker saying we can't buy our bread at Coles or Woolies as they sell their bread cheaper than the Bakers. And it's taking away their livelihood.
We don't stay at Caravan Parks ever so the Caravan Park wont be missing my dollars as I never stay in Caravan Parks and I am not the only one. Generally speaking most people that stay in the showgrounds around the country are Grey Nomads with self contained rigs, if the Showgrounds or other alternative stays are not available they will bypass the town and go to a RV friendly town robbing other traders of much needed custom.
We have a fully self contained motorhome. We seldom stay in caravan parks as they do not offer us anything we don't already have. These parks are NOT entitled to the monopoly they so desperately crave. They have to accept opposition as do Coles, Woolworth etc etc. The Caravan Park lobby ( yes it is a lobby group ) is attempting to close every free and low cost camp site in Australia. This lobby is fast becoming hated by the RV travellers, and will NEVER achieve this goal. A majority of RV folk just bypass non RV Friendly Towns and unfortunately it is the local treders that miss out. Just back from 5 weeks in m/home , total accom. was $58.00 !! Naracoorte Council, DON'T be conned.So much more could be said !!
Sorry, but you are totally incorrect in your article..we at the Naracoorte holiday park do have more than sufficient spaces and facilities to also accommodate RV's of any size. So Yes we do allow and accommodate RV's etc into our holiday park.