Thoughtless RV tourists pose real threat to Australian camping freedoms says CMCA
CMCA Chairman Diana Worner
with her motor home
Flocks of motorhomes, campervans, caravans, 5th wheelers, campers and Australian travellers with tents start their annual winter migration north soon.
But as thousands of Australia's Recreational Vehicle mounted Snow Birds head for the Northern sun Phillip Berry Manager Projects and Member Benefits Campervan and Motorhome Club of Australia Ltd says camping freedoms are in danger.
"Australian travellers face some serious problems with overcrowding in rest areas".
"People overstay the allotted time, and others draining grey water onto bitumen carparks", he said. "These are just some of the issues that we are dealing with".
"We now face a real threat of losing many of the benefits that we currently have in these areas".
"Being an RV tourist in Australia brings with it certain responsibilities", Phillip Berry says.
"CMCA spend a considerable amount of their resources in lobbying governments at all levels for increased and improved benefits for all mobile tourists travelling throughout this wonderful country", he said.
"Sadly, there are those who do not do the right thing, and they subsequently give all RV tourists a bad name".
"They also make it very difficult for us when negotiating with local councils for new and better rest areas and new dump point installations", he said.
Campervan comfort makes home any place at all.
"Once again, as the winter migration to the north commences, we need to get the message across to those who do not do the right thing about the consequences of their actions" Phillip Berry said.
"This year we are facing major problems in Queensland and the northern part of Western Australia".
"If people continue to do the wrong thing as they did last year, we are in real danger of losing many of the great overnight rest areas that are currently available to us", he said.
"One of the main issues is people overstaying the time limit".
"If an area is posted as being a 24 hour rest area, that is exactly what it means".
"Many car parks in beachside locations in northern Queensland are available for overnight stays".
"If people continue to abuse this privilege, then we may lose these areas. Just because others may abuse the privilege and stay longer does not mean you can, or should", Phillip Berry said.
"Please do not park in a manner that blocks a local resident’s view, and do not park in a residential street". "If you are asked by a Council Ranger to move on, please do not abuse them. If fees apply to an area, please pay them. Councils have to maintain these areas, and to avoid paying fees is only abusing a privilege", he said.
"Please do not hang washing out around your vehicle whilst stopped in a rest area".
"This creates an unsightly image, and only damages our reputation in the eyes of councils and the general public".
"Always ask yourself, Would I want someone camped in front of my home?" Or blocking the lovely view that was the reason I bought this home?” Phillip Berry said
"The lack of water is still a major issue in many towns across our country".
GoSee view from Jayco Conquest motorhome bridge deck
"Please remember that it is the local residents that pay for this water, and in many towns they are still on strict water restrictions", he said.
"Always ask before filling your water tanks, and perhaps pay a couple of dollars into a local charity box". "Do not wash your vehicle, not only is this wasteful, but it is the easiest way to get the local community and the local Council offside", Phillip Berry said.
"If you are staying in a caravan park on a non-powered site, please do not hook up to power after dark".
"Some caravan parks have now removed areas that they had made available for self-contained vehicles at a nominal cost due to people doing this, or using the ablution blocks when they have not paid to do so".
"You may think no one will notice or it is not a big issue, but remember, caravan park owners are business people trying to make a living, so please don’t try and cheat them", Phillip Berry said.
"Next year when you go to book in your area in the ‘self-contained’ section of the park, you may wonder why it is no longer available".
"And the privilege has been lost to everyone due to your actions", Phillip Berry said.
"Sometimes it is only one person who causes the loss of these privileges".
"Another problem is people stopping overnight adjacent to a council structure such as a camp kitchen, and then connecting their caravan to the power overnight".
"This is just abusing a privilege that the council has provided", he said.
Disposal of waste water – travel without trace
Luxury approach to life on the road
"Unless you are given permission to do so by the controlling authority, NEVER discharge your grey waste onto the ground, especially if you are parked on bitumen", Phillip Berry said.
"Wherever possible all grey and black water waste should be discharged into a dump point".
"We acknowledge that this is not always possible, so in extreme cases it will need to be buried in the bush".
"There are strict parameters for doing this".
"DO NOT discharge the waste directly onto the ground surface".
"This is nothing less than environmental vandalism, and can create serious health issues, especially in areas where children may play", he said.
"Please do not flush grey and black water holding tanks or their hoses with a hose attached to a potable water outlet".
"This can cause contamination, not just for your water, but for others using the outlet after you", he said.
RV Friendly Towns™
"Whenever possible, please support the RV Friendly Towns around Australia".
"When visiting an RV Friendly Town™, please remember that they have had to meet a strict criterion to be part of the CMCA scheme".
"However, not every RV Friendly Town™ may have exactly what you are looking for".
"For example, the rest area that has been provided for short term stays may not be within walking distance of the main street".
"It may have been established on the only land available". "Please do not complain to the council or local business people if something is not where you think it should be".
Do the right thing. Marianne Daton of Kinglake, and her travelling companion, China Doll
"It is important to realise that the actions of one person can cause the loss of a benefit enjoyed by so many".
"One persons bad behaviour can tarnish the image of all RV tourists, and can indeed give all RV tourists a bad name".
"Please remember that abusing someone may make you feel better, but the ramifications can hurt many others".
"This industry will continue to grow at the current rapid rate".
"We will need more rest areas and dump points around this wonderful, beautiful country", Phillip Berry said.
"We need all the help we can get to do this, and the best help we can get is for everyone to at all times ensure that their behaviour is exemplary".
To enjoy this wonderful lifestyle, and to ensure that we all continue to do so, PLEASE DO THE RIGHT THING".
Phillip Berry
Manager Projects and Member Benefits
Campervan and Motorhome Club of Australia Ltd
www.cmca.net.au
