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Online forums reach fever pitch
Park boss lashed for
free-camping stance
By Dennis Amor
A QUEENSLAND caravan park owner who is
opposing council plans to open up two free camping areas has attracted an
avalanche of criticism from angry travellers.
Peter Rankin, who owns the 4-star Cania Gorge
Caravan and Tourist Park, a member of the BIG4 chain, with wife Jill,
admits he is fighting "tooth and nail" to block any moves by North Burnett
Regional Council to provide the facilities.
The council has already discussed plans to set
up free camping in the centre of nearby Monto and at a popular tourist
attraction in Eidsvold.
Mr Rankin's battle includes taking out a full-page advertisement in the Central
& North Burnett Times, supported by
more than a dozen Monto traders, in which he
argues: "Why do the rich people who drive RVs worth anything from $100,000
to $500,000 need to be subsidised by ratepayers who, themselves, can't
afford such vehicles and who can't afford to roam around the country on
subsidies from government bodies."
The casual rate for a full-page advert in the
weekly publication is $3632.
When news of the advertisement broke, online caravan forums reached fever pitch, with many
outraged members attacking Mr
Rankin's comments.
One "flabbergated" member wrote: "Never in the freedom of choice camping
debate have we ever seen such tactics used to frighten a community into
supporting one business."
The BIG4 chain has expressed concern that its logo was used in the
advertisement.
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Part of Mr Rankin's newspaper advertisement.
Click on photo to
enlarge. |
But Mr Rankin told Caravanning News: "It is not the caravanners we
are against – it is our governing bodies who make decisions that do not
make sense."
In his advertisement, he points out that he has spent "millions of
dollars" on infrastructure since buying his caravan park 10 years ago,
with much of the money going to local businesses.
"We have spent literally thousands of dollars promoting our business right
across Australia. Yes, we expect to be the first beneficiaries of such
advertising," he wrote.
"However, every business in Monto reaps some business from our efforts.
"We have never received any acknowledgement from council for our efforts.
As a matter of fact, we were never able to get any advertising material
for the shire to include, at our cost, on our stands at the caravan and
camping shows and other shows we regularly attend.
"When this park is busy, so is your town."
He claimed all four caravan parks managed by the regional council on
behalf of ratepayers ran at a loss.
"These businesses should subsidise your rates and make life easier for all
ratepayers of the shire," he said.
Mr Rankin pointed out that the council had spent over a million dollars of
ratepayers' and state money on building the local RM Wiliams Centre and
was now spending more on maintenance and operational costs ... money it
did not have.
"Now they are going to turn it into a campground ... a million dollar free
campground at your ( the ratepayers) expense."
He said the council also wanted to open a subsidised RV park in Monto.
"It is my opinion that a vote of no-confidence is in order for this
council," his advertisement said.
Mr Rankin warned that if the council continued with its free camping
policies and did not start to close such costly areas he would no longer
support any business in the North Burnett Regional Council.
"I believe the council gives us no other choice," he said.
"Furthermore, we will now start to suggest to the people who stay with us
that it would be more beneficial for them to shop in Biloela. At the
moment we try to steer as many people possible to Monto.
"The council may then get a real idea of what this caravan park is worth
to the business community of Monto."
Meanwhile, the Monto Magic Tourism Action
Group weighed into the rumpus by announcing on it Facebook page that
"the opinion of a few is not necessarily the opinion of the whole town".
One member wrote: "We cannot let the views of one man ruin it for the rest
of Monto, which has always been known for its friendliness and welcoming
manner towards visitors.
"The 'Welcome' mat is out to everyone."
Mr Rankin's advertisement also fired a
broadside at the Campervan and Motorhome Club of Australia, accusing
it of being an "insurance/co-operative-based business" whose members' rigs
were often more valuable than the normal country home.
"They want you, the mums and dads of
Australia, to fund their multi-million dollar lifestyle," he said.
But CMCA chairman Vincent Moran countered by
issuing a statement saying that contrary to Mr Rankin’s claims, his members were not typically rich people
who drove RVs worth between $100,000 and $500,000.
"Most are average Aussies who have worked hard throughout their lives to
achieve their dream of exploring Australia in an RV of their choice," he
said.
Many members regularly used caravan parks, spending more than $50
million on buying over a million nights in them each year.
But, Mr Moran said, there was a growing number of freedom
campers who did not require a full-service caravan park on a daily basis.
"Self-contained RVs are a major growth trend in RV tourism and progressive
caravan park owners understand this, as well as the need to adapt their
business models to meet changing market demands and maintain
profitability," he added.
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Monto: in line for a new free camping facility |
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'We had to make
a stand'
THE owners of the
caravan park at the centre of the furore admit they themselves have
enjoyed free camping.
Mr Rankin's wife Jill told Caravanning News they had owned a
caravan for many years and had travelled extensively throughout Australia.
"We are caravanners," she said.
"We have free-camped in isolated areas such as Salvadore Rosa (Carnarvon
Gorge), Innaminka and more.
"We are not against free camping in such places.
"But when we are within the limits of a town we always stay in a caravan
park.
"When our council decided to open a free/subsidised (though who is going
to collect these subsidies we do not know) camp area in the centre of
Monto we felt we had to take a stand."
Mrs Rankin pointed out that there were already numerous free campsites
throughout the area.
"So why do we need another in the main street of our town, which has the
potential to affect three longstanding businesses – the caravan parks,"
she said.
"To survive, small towns need permanent infrastructure and families living
and working there.
"We can see what has happened to so many small towns such as ours now that
the railways, banks, sawmills etc have gone. They have all gone backwards.
"Travellers and caravanners do contribute something, but not to the extent
of permanent residents.
"All three caravan parks contribute 12 months of the year to our town."
Mrs Rankin said the local newsagent had posted a message on Facebook
alleging businesses had been "blackmailed" into putting their names to the
newspaper advertisement.
"We did no such thing. Those businesses ‒ like us – did not see the need
for a camping area in the main street.
"Is our newsagent going to give out free newspapers and magazines? I don’t
think so.
"Is the council going to give out free bread, milk and meat also?"
She said the Campervan and Motorhome Club of Australia approached councils
and demanded free or cheap campsites with water and dump points for their
members.
"If this is not forthcoming they allude to the fact that they will boycott
the town. Is this not blackmail?
"We have written to the CMCA offering their members cheaper sites at our
caravan park but they have never replied."
Mrs Rankin questioned why ratepayers should have to subsidise the
council's non-profit-making caravan parks.
"Rates are supposed to be for essential services not to prop up failed
businesses," she said.
"We also note the BIG4 entry on Facebook.
"We are sorry they have decided to be fence-sitters on this issue and not
support us.
"Our park has been in the BIG4 chain for at least 15 years and we
personally pay thousands of dollars to them each month for membership.
"Very disappointing."
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