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June 2016
 

 


Broome ... change of heart over pets

Change of heart over pets

Council received numerous complaints

Broome's change of heart over time limit on pets

Have your say

BROOME Shire Council in WA has had a change of heart and will now allow travellers with pets to stay for more than seven nights at temporary or overflow caravan parks.

Councillors unanimously voted in favour of the move after numerous complaints from pet-loving caravanners that the limit unfairly restricted their time in the beachside town.

They pointed out that all six caravan parks in the area banned animals.

New rules will now provide them with priority access to temporary or overflow facilities at the local PCYC, pistol club and Seventh Day Adventist Church.

A council report said caravan parks would not accept travellers with pets from June to September, the peak tourist season.

"This is an individual operating decision that the shire has no influence over," it said.


'Important revenue and reputation of Broome may be harmed'


"The isolation of Broome and the nature of self-drive travellers often mean that people arrive with no booked accommodation or indication of how they will be accommodated.

"During the peak season the permanent facilities are often running at peak capacity and are unable to accommodate the number of visitors.

 "Furthermore, travellers with pets are often unable to find accommodation during this time.

"By failing to accommodate the extra travellers, local businesses miss out on important revenue and the reputation of Broome may be harmed."

The report said the council received "numerous complaints" regarding the availability of caravan and camping accommodation in Broome.

They commonly referred to the availability and length of stay for people travelling with pets and the length of stay in overflow facilities.

"The six licenced permanent facility operators have made significant investments into their respective businesses and Broome’s economy," the report pointed out.

"It is important that the operation of temporary facilities is in support of the ongoing promotion of Broome as a tourist destination and enhances the local economy ... and not operated to the detriment of the permanent facilities," it added.

Shire director development services Aletta Nugent told local media that the new policy represented a more positive approach to attracting the self-drive market to Broome, especially the large contingent of people travelling with pets.

“Self-drive travellers are very vocal through social media in promoting or criticising a destination," she said.

The new rules would benefit local traders by increasing visitor numbers while not affecting existing caravan parks.

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