A Strategic Approach to the Caravan and Camping Industry 2012

It states that “the best way of doing this is to make sure a current and comprehensive
park management plan and/or business plan is developed in consultation with
[Department of Sustainability and Environment] DSE before a lease begins. The Best
Practice Management Guidelines include a park management plan template to
provide Committees of Management and park managers with a framework to address
a wide range of issues. All park management plans should be prepared in consultation
with stakeholders and must be endorsed by DSE before their implementation. 69
Best practice initiatives to manage unauthorised camping and
seasonal variations in demand;
There is currently a great deal of debate and discussion on the best way to provide for
seasonal variations in demand, unauthorised and unlicensed camping across Australia.
Both Queensland and Tasmania have investigated provision and pricing of Local
Government authorised overflow or free camping and are proposing cost recovery
models to better manage the supply and demand for these facilities.
Queensland
Queensland Government is looking to allow short term camping on Trust land for 3 to
7 night maximum (on the proviso that there is no adverse effect on local licenced
caravan parks. It is developing tools for calculating cost recovery that local
governments can use.
In May, 2011 the Queensland Government released its response to the Economic
Development Committee’s Report No. 5: Inquiry into developing Queensland’s rural
and regional communities through grey nomad tourism, stating that the Government
supports the committee’s recommendation “to develop land management plans
which will allow for short term camping on trust land. This approach facilitates local
management solutions which reflect the unique circumstances in each community.” 70
It further stated that it supports the “recommendation for supporting local
government’s adoption of cost recovery methodology in determining fees and
charges. It is necessary to ensure there is an equitable commercial environment for
commercial operators in the sector, especially where Councils currently provide free
69 http://www.dse.vic.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0012/119100/Revised-Policy-13072011.pdf
70 Queensland Government response to the Economic Development Committee’s
Report No. 5 (February 2011) downloaded from
http://rti.cabinet.qld.gov.au/documents/2011/may/govt%20response%20report%20on%20grey%20nomad
%20tourism/Attachments/gn-gr-rpt-005-12May2011.pdf
services; which can undermine the profitability of the commercial sector. As far as it
relates to Trust land (reserves) administered by the Land Act 1994, DERM already
gives guidance to local government in relation to Land Management Plans and Trust
land. In relation to the use of reserves for recreation or showgrounds for short term
camping, councils or other trustees of these reserves are required by the Land Act
1994 to spend any rental/fee received on the maintenance or enhancement of these
reserves, this in effect provides a level of cost recovery. In conjunction with the
existing work being undertaken in developing a model TLMP, DERM will look at
incorporating a cost recovery tool that local government can use.“ 71
“An additional policy titled ‘Secondary Use of Trust Land Policy’ states that trust land
may be provided for the travelling public only and must be limited to no longer than
three nights, which may be extended to no more than seven nights, with the proviso
that there is no adverse effect on local licensed caravan and/or tourist park owners. It
also requires the trustee to prepare land management plans in consultation with
stakeholders for lodgement with the Department. In effect, Trust Land Management
Plans (TLMPs) have a role in legitimising secondary use of trust land and appropriate
detailing management arrangements” 72
Tasmania
In 2010/11 four complaints were received from private caravan site owners about
councils providing free or low priced overnight RV camping services. These complaints
were upheld by the Office of the Tasmanian Economic Regulator. The Local
Government Association of Tasmania (LGAT) and the State Government jointly
prepared a response by way of the Consultation Draft Statewide Directions Paper –
Review of Council Recreational Vehicle Overnight camping Services (October, 2011).
This Directions Paper summarised that “The premise of the complaint in each case
was that the pricing (or lack of pricing) for these council-provided services was in
71 Queensland Government response to the Economic Development Committee’s
Report No. 5 (February 2011) downloaded from
http://rti.cabinet.qld.gov.au/documents/2011/may/govt%20response%20report%20on%20grey%20nomad
%20tourism/Attachments/gn-gr-rpt-005-12May2011.pdf
72 Queensland Government response to the Economic Development Committee’s
Report No. 5 (February 2011) downloaded from
http://rti.cabinet.qld.gov.au/documents/2011/may/govt%20response%20report%20on%20grey%20nomad
%20tourism/Attachments/gn-gr-rpt-005-12May2011.pdf
A Strategic Approach to Caravan and Camping Tourism in Western Australia Page 58