A Strategic Approach to the Caravan and Camping Industry 2012

Camp with the Custodians
Recommendation 5: Partner with Indigenous Australians to Develop Caravan and Camping Infrastructure on Indigenous Land
Tourism WA to collaborate with the Department of Indigenous Affairs
(DIA), Aboriginal Lands Trust (ALT), Indigenous Land Corporation (ILC),
Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR)
and Indigenous Business Australia (IBA) to investigate a program which
would facilitate the establishment of Indigenous and Private Enterprise
Partnerships for expansion of caravan and camping opportunities on
Indigenous Land.
Engage best practice industry experts to develop infrastructure and deliver
skills to their Indigenous business partners in return for a partnership on a
lease to develop the assets. At the end of the lease, the Indigenous partner
has the assets and the skills to move forward independently with a thriving
business on their own land.
Issues and Risks
A total of 364,445 km2 (14% of the state) is Indigenous-held 85 . “In terms of the size,
Western Australia has by far the largest areas of native title land of any Australian
jurisdiction. Ninety two percent of the area of native title determinations is in Western
Australia (Western Australia).” 86 Much of this land is in regional and remote areas
which are in high demand by ‘nature based’ and ‘experience seeker’ caravanners and
campers. A significant proportion is also in the North of the state which appeals to the
intrastate market looking for somewhere warm to stay through the winter months. At
present much of this land is not effectively utilised or there are insufficient facilities to
meet the demands of the majority of caravanners and campers.
Much of the caravan and camping supply side deficit is in locations where there is a
significant Indigenous population and landholding. Many Indigenous communities and
families have tried offering small scale camping on their land, particularly in the
Kimberley with twenty or more small scale Indigenous operated campgrounds
operating with varying degrees of success. Many of these business operators lack the
capital and commercial experience to reach financial viability or sustain real wages for
operators.
85 Regional Indigenous Land Strategy 2007-2012 Western Australia, Indigenous Land Corporation
86 Http://www.hreoc.gov.au/about/media/speeches/social_justice/2007/IQPC_2may_2007.html
Lack of clear succession planning and back up staff can often result in lack of
consistency in service delivery, especially when cultural or family commitments divert
attention away from the business. This results in negative impacts on reputation, as is
indicated by many online user forums.
Past grant funded investment in tourism infrastructure and marketing has shown little
long term returns in terms of sustained employment (with real wages) or commercial
success (without reliance on ongoing support). Furthermore a great deal of this
infrastructure is underutilised or unutilised. Cash flow issues inhibit sufficient
investment in repairs and maintenance which significantly reduces the lifespan and
effective long term use of assets with many being retired well before they should be.
The need to seek outside employment (due to insufficient income for wages) can
often result in short or long term breaks in tourism operations and/or insufficient staff
to maintain and grow the business resulting in a gradual decline or failure.
Strategy
Tourism WA could initially seek support through DEEWR’s Indigenous Employment
Program and/or IBA’s Economic Development Initiative to engage a consultant to
investigate the viability and progress the development of an Indigenous Private
Partnership Program for caravan and camping Facilities on Indigenous Lands. A
successful program could deliver the following outcomes:
As a first stage, it may be advantageous to select one region, such as the
Kimberley, to develop the strategy and identify suitable sites.
Devise a model for delivering an Indigenous and Private Enterprise Partnerships
for the delivery of caravan and camping facilities on Indigenous Land
Assess the financial viability of the proposed partnership model
Consult with stakeholders to establish the long-term sustainability of the model
and identify any opportunities or foreseeable impediments to the
implementation or viability (e.g. Aboriginal Lands Trust, caravan park Investor
Groups etc.)
Seek funding (if required) to support the development and delivery of the model
A Strategic Approach to Caravan and Camping Tourism in Western Australia Page 96