- Why the government’s holiday initiative has missed the mark

LOCALS have highlighted another looming problem with the State Government’s ‘free camping’ initiative, set to commence on Sunday, December 1 this year.

And it’s a failing policy that could have a significant impact on the economies of regional communities across the state.

“You’ve got people from Melbourne booking sites at all these camping grounds around the state, without having to pay any money. But what’s the incentive to turn up if there’s a poor weather report or something else happens?” asked one Fish Creek tourism operator at the weekend.

“They just won’t come, the sites will remain vacant and people who would like to go on a holiday will miss out.”

It’s a scenario about which commercial caravan park operator, David Holgate of the Venus Bay Caravan Park, is all too familiar.

“Occasionally you’ll miss getting a deposit if it’s a group or for some other reason, which is why we always try to contact them. If you don’t get a deposit, there’s every chance they simply won’t show up,” he said.

Mr Holgate said he didn’t anticipate any negative impact on his family’s park from the free camping initiative at Wilsons Prom and other camping grounds, because Venus Bay was always heavily oversubscribed in the summer but acknowledged there could be vacancies at state camping grounds in the absence of deposits.

The Member for Eastern Victoria, a Prom regular, Melina Bath MP agrees.

“I raised this issue in State Parliament at the time, asking if any modelling had been done on the likely impact on caravan park operators and local economies,” said Ms Bath this week.

“I’ve spoken to caravan park operators at Marlo and Orbost in East Gippsland and also at Waratah Bay and they’re concerned they’ll not only lose bookings but also be pressured to drop their rates in response to this.

“I’m also concerned that, in a cost-of-living crisis, this initiative is not supporting the people on low incomes it is supposed to be supporting. Would they have the caravans and camping equipment they need to take advantage of this?”

In State Parliament, Ms Bath said she favoured the holiday voucher system proposed by the Victorian Caravan Parks Association, which offered the opportunity for low-income earners to get a subsidised holiday at the venue of their choice; whether it be a camping ground, motel or short-stay accommodation.

“People booking sites in national parks and state reserves and not turning up is a real possibility and potentially another unintended consequence of this ill-thought-out scheme more designed to get votes than really helping people get a holiday who need it most.”