TWO outdoor agencies have condemned a proposal to increase fees for campers – echoing concerns of angered Morwell camper.
The Australian Camps Association and the Victorian Outdoor Providers Network spoke against increasing fees for campers in Victorian national parks by almost $9 million per year in the Department of Environment and Primary Industries’ National Parks Camping and Accommodation Fees – Regulatory Impact Statement.
The State Government is proposing to implement the new fee regime on 1 March after calling for responses to the proposal on 22 November.
Among submissions, the associations highlighted the model would create “a new levy on basic camp sites for services that don’t exist – cost recovery where no costs exist”.
In The Express last November, disability pensioner Lyle Monk expressed his fear that he may no longer be able to visit basic camping sites if the fee model came into effect.
His submission said the increased cost of between $130.20 and $182.40 for himself and his carer to stay at a very basic unpowered campsite for three nights ($13 per person per night plus $17.40 per night car/boat) was too much.
“The proposed permit fees and charges I believe, will effectively deny access to a large portion of the elderly financially limited section of the community currently using these facilities,” Mr Monk said.
ACA chief executive David Petherick said the outdoor sector had always supported an equitable and efficient approach to user pays services as appropriate.
He said the proposal as it currently stood seemed to be focussed on a maximum “cash grab” without an associated explanation of where this money was going.
“This rushed and ill-conceived proposal appears to try to address an internal Parks Victoria budget shortfall with a misguided attempt at a new user pays model,” Mr Petherick said.
VOPN spokesperson Tony Pammer said they were also concerned at the anti-regional bias of these fee increases when compared to the free Melbourne Zoo and Museum entry.
“How can the government effectively subsidise metropolitan government-run organisations while hiking fees on rural and regional camp visitors and businesses?” Mr Pammer said.
