A Strategic Approach to the Caravan and Camping Industry 2012

Sustainable Serviceability
Recommendation 4: Create Public-Private Partnerships to Improve Delivery and Maintenance of Caravan and Camping Facilities
Increase the supply and improve distribution, maintenance and cleanliness
of publically accessible facilities such as dump points, toilets and rest areas
through co-locating (where practical) with existing businesses and entering
into cooperative arrangements for their management.
Tender out Management Contracts for existing popular overnight camping
locations including Main Roads Rest Areas and Shire Authorised
Campgrounds to provide daily cleaning, maintenance, and monitoring of
permitted duration of stay.
Implement a user pays (cost recovery) system to better distribute the cost
burden of maintenance and cleaning.
Enable Main Roads to focus their resources on the management of roads
and safety by transitioning facilities that are predominantly used for
tourism over to a more appropriate management structure.
Issues and Risks
Many rest areas, which are provided primarily for road safety, are being used as
substitute caravan parks, with planned overnight stops and extended duration stays
commonplace at these ‘free’ camping areas.
Heavy transport drivers can find it difficult to access some rest areas due to the high
number of caravans and RVs taking up the space provided. Main Roads is embarking
on the development of new and upgraded rest areas as a pilot in the Pilbara. It is
proposed that these rest areas will have ablution facilities, which may attract more
‘free’ camping.
Faced with a similar issue, the New Zealand government recently introduced
regulations to manage ‘freedom camping’ to minimise any negative impacts.
However, a number of issues have arisen since the introduction of the new legislation
including anti-social behaviour, fire risk, pollution of the environment, and
unauthorised and illegal use of caravan park facilities. The lack of regulation of the
‘free camping’ sites has had a negative impact on the peaceful enjoyment of those
locations, by the consumers that lobbied for them.
Many self-contained travellers cherish the opportunity to camp free of charge, and
individuals and user groups are vocal in their criticism of Western Australia as being
unfriendly where adequate ‘free camping’ and associated facilities are not provided.
There is a cost associated with the provision, maintenance, cleaning and waste
disposal at roadside stops, rest areas, authorised and unauthorised camping areas.
This cost is normally borne by the ratepayer of the local government area, or state
government agencies, including Main Roads.
Due to these costs, which are extremely high in some remote and regional locations,
facilities are not maintained or cleaned as frequently as they need to be. This results
in significant complaints about the state of facilities, with some rendered unusable,
particularly during peak times. There is also insufficient supply in some areas.
There are currently issues with some people staying for extended durations at some of
the states more appealing rest areas (particularly those alongside waterways), taking
away opportunities for other visitors with genuine needs to be able to utilise the
provided facilities.
There are potential public liability issues for government agencies and local
governments which knowingly “turn a blind eye” to unmanaged camping activities
that can place the public in dangerous situations. Fire risk, accidents between large
transport vehicles and recreational vehicles competing for the same rest areas, health
and security issues are all potential for litigation in the event that travellers suffer
damage or loss.
Strategy
Main Roads could tender out supply opportunities for existing businesses to provide
new rest areas and publically accessible ablution and dump point facilities on its land.
These could complement or replace existing facilities, depending on distribution of the
locations proposed by those who tender to supply the required services.
Roadhouses, Stations, Indigenous Communities, Caravan Parks or other business types
may tender to provide and maintain rest areas and facilities on a fee for service
arrangement. Infrastructure could be provided by Government or supplied by the
tenderer by negotiation. A user pays system could be implemented to contribute to
the costs of providing these services where appropriate.
A Strategic Approach to Caravan and Camping Tourism in Western Australia Page 94