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Chockstone Photography
Australian Landscape Photography by Michael Boniwell
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Chockstone Forum - General Discussion

General Climbing Discussion

 Page 1 of 3. Messages 1 to 20 | 21 to 40 | 41 to 45
Author
Paying the Pines fees
JonSnow9
24-Jul-2013
11:09:26 PM
I'm a relative newcomer to Arapiles having only been once before and relied on 'word of mouth' and the 2008 Mentz + Tempest guidebook to guide me with the Pines payment system '$2 a night and $3 if the ranger collects'.

Well d'uh you say, paying your campground fees (now risen to $4 a night) is important for maintaining facilities etc etc.

Having not enough cash to pay for the amount of nights I'd like to (paying for my girlfriend too) I thought I could wait for my next trip into Horsham to get money out.

Into Horsham on the 5th night, leave it to the morning to pay. On that morning, the ranger comes around and gives me a penalty notice of $180 for not displaying a permit- despite my protestations that we were actually going to pay ("that's what they ALL say mate") Apparently warnings had been given on the past year to the climbers to pay their fees (never been there or heard of said warnings) and there were no signs up anywhere to tell us this or the payment method or consequences.

So to my shock, and many other surprised faces in the campground.

Has this been a well-known fact around the Pines or is it a sudden need of revenue on that particular day? (he didn't come around again during my 18 day stay). (A quick look showed a post last year of possible warnings but nothing concrete?) I'm more embarrassed than anything else really..



Mike Bee
25-Jul-2013
8:26:26 AM
Me and the missus got stung a few weeks ago too.
I guess the message is that we now need to prioritize paying as soon as we arrive.
White Trash
25-Jul-2013
9:26:22 AM
>Having not enough cash to pay for the amount of nights I'd like to (paying for my girlfriend too) I thought I could wait for my next trip into Horsham to get money out.

>Into Horsham on the 5th night, leave it to the morning to pay. On that morning, the ranger comes around and gives me a penalty notice of $180 for not displaying a permit-



you stayed 4 nights before paying?
sounds to me like the ranger had a case, but i wonder how ranger would go if you paid what you could and had a permit for say 3 nights, and later being cashless explained waiting on bank visit to top up the permit?

lots of people get off parking finest with legit excuses, and you could at least demonstrate you are trying to do the right thing? prolly not worth the hassel with parks? council? tho.

Eduardo Slabofvic
25-Jul-2013
12:42:54 PM
You can't rustle up $20?

How did you get to Araps? Walk?
Access T CliffCare
25-Jul-2013
12:50:06 PM
On 24/07/2013 naw26 wrote:
>I'm a relative newcomer to Arapiles having only been once before and relied
>on 'word of mouth' and the 2008 Mentz + Tempest guidebook to guide me with
>the Pines payment system '$2 a night and $3 if the ranger collects'.
>
>Well d'uh you say, paying your campground fees (now risen to $4 a night)
>is important for maintaining facilities etc etc.
>
>Having not enough cash to pay for the amount of nights I'd like to (paying
>for my girlfriend too) I thought I could wait for my next trip into Horsham
>to get money out.
>
>Into Horsham on the 5th night, leave it to the morning to pay. On that
>morning, the ranger comes around and gives me a penalty notice of $180
>for not displaying a permit- despite my protestations that we were actually
>going to pay ("that's what they ALL say mate") Apparently warnings had
>been given on the past year to the climbers to pay their fees (never been
>there or heard of said warnings) and there were no signs up anywhere to
>tell us this or the payment method or consequences.
>
>So to my shock, and many other surprised faces in the campground.
>
>Has this been a well-known fact around the Pines or is it a sudden need
>of revenue on that particular day? (he didn't come around again during
>my 18 day stay). (A quick look showed a post last year of possible warnings
>but nothing concrete?) I'm more embarrassed than anything else really..

Hi naw26, I am sorry for yourself being one of the unlucky ones.There are probably lots of things I could say, various explanations but to be short and sweet about it all (well as short as I can be) - campground fees are required in a number of campgrounds in Victoria.
Conditions and information as noted in guidebooks, is subject to change and nothing should be taken as gospel. Information and updates that get put out at the time of various changes obviously soon disappears into all the other information.
Being fined for not paying fees has always been in existence, can happen and does, so I suppose like everything, if you make the decision not to pay then you really need to accept the consequences that go with that risk.

Previously in another PV life, there were more rangers at the park and one would come pretty regularly every morning. And for the most part, people paid. Once that stopped happening - park resources, especially people resources are cut and cut and cut. And very few people paid. Now there are not enough rangers to check every day. But following some recent changes and there are stories out there if you hunt them down, an effort is being made to police the rules.
It won't be every morning, rather randomly. And yes, that is what they all say - we were going to pay - regardless of whether it's true or not. There were some temporary signs put out at the time of change but the campground already has enough signs. You can't put signs up for every little thing - there has to be some responsibility on visitors to research these things themselves.
I have put out some warnings for people to pay their fees. And herein lies another warning about it. But in the end it is not my responsibility nor anyone elses to constantly have to do that. If I constantly tell people - I just end up sounding like a nagging mum. I have enough of that at home :)

I will send some more warning out there via social media and websites etc but just know that you are required to pay camp fees. You don't have to but then you could end up the unlucky one. Whatever the fine is I wouldn't want it either way. And the maintaining facilities, expenses etc etc is another story. But thats a really long one and this is my short version.

http://www.chockstone.org/Forum/Forum.asp?Action=DisplayTopic&ForumID=1&MessageID=117182&Replies=6
http://www.chockstone.org/Forum/Forum.asp?Action=DisplayTopic&ForumID=1&MessageID=114306&PagePos=&Sort=&Replies=117&MsgPagePos=100

Cheers,
Tracey

Sabu
25-Jul-2013
12:51:39 PM
Thats a raw deal. However, there were actually warnings being sent around during Easter this year about fines. If I recall correctly they had stated that there had been enough time for people to adjust to the new rates and that they were now going to enforce them with fines.

Miguel75
25-Jul-2013
1:10:54 PM
On 24/07/2013 naw26 wrote:
>I'm a relative newcomer to Arapiles having only been once before and relied
>on 'word of mouth' and the 2008 Mentz + Tempest guidebook to guide me with
>the Pines payment system '$2 a night and $3 if the ranger collects'.
>
>Well d'uh you say, paying your campground fees (now risen to $4 a night)
>is important for maintaining facilities etc etc.
>
>Having not enough cash to pay for the amount of nights I'd like to (paying
>for my girlfriend too) I thought I could wait for my next trip into Horsham
>to get money out.

The fine sucks man but why didn't you pay for what you could and then pay more after your trip to Horsham?

IdratherbeclimbingM9
25-Jul-2013
1:47:03 PM
On 25/07/2013 Miguel75 wrote:
>The fine sucks man but why didn't you pay for what you could and then pay more after your trip to Horsham?

He did pay more after the Horsham trip...

Miguel75
25-Jul-2013
2:01:43 PM
On 25/07/2013 IdratherbeclimbingM9 wrote:
>On 25/07/2013 Miguel75 wrote:
>>The fine sucks man but why didn't you pay for what you could and then
>pay more after your trip to Horsham?
>
>He did pay more after the Horsham trip...
>☻

Boom-tish;)
jrc
25-Jul-2013
4:07:33 PM
so is there a credit card option ? or a cheque option ? or is it cash only these days?

ajfclark
25-Jul-2013
4:47:24 PM
Same as always. Cash in the envelope supplied and put it in the box.

kuu
25-Jul-2013
5:16:42 PM
On 25/07/2013 jrc wrote:
> (snip) or is it cash only these days?

It has always been cash since the fee system was introduced.

But John, I guess you could try putting your Credit Card in the payment envelope, along with details of the PIN and 3-digit CCV number ;-)

rnm
25-Jul-2013
5:59:34 PM
I remember the drama of turning up at the campground at Frog without a credit card, a phone, or a car (hitched from Brisbane), and then trying to pay the fee.

No cash accepted, so had to get down the hill, find a phone to get the story, find a computer to pay online, and find someone kind enough to let me use their credit card.

Cash is definitely preferable to that system!

Unfortunate for the OP, but such is life.
kieranl
25-Jul-2013
10:42:16 PM
On 24/07/2013 naw26 wrote:

>Has this been a well-known fact around the Pines or is it a sudden need
>of revenue on that particular day? (he didn't come around again during
>my 18 day stay). (A quick look showed a post last year of possible warnings
>but nothing concrete?) I'm more embarrassed than anything else really..
>
For the rangers, checking camping permits ranks just above pumping out the toilets, so they would rather not do it. So when they do it they are not in a good mood and not pre-disposed to accept lame excuses.
I would also guess that the ranger had done a quick swing past the previous day to see what tents were up and then booked you the next day. That you didn't see a ranger again in your 18 day stay means only that you didn't see them.
So, suck it up, princess, you were sprung.

ChuckNorris
25-Jul-2013
11:21:28 PM
Jeez K monster chill out. You are beginning to rant like mr Abbott on immigration

skegly
26-Jul-2013
7:28:24 AM
On 25/07/2013 Stugang wrote:
>Jeez K monster chill out. You are beginning to rant like mr Abbott on immigration

Na mr Abbott would just send in the army and if you couldn't hand over your paper then you'll be shot.

On that note I wonder if the army /navy bombed a boat, no one on that boat would drown at sea.
jrc
26-Jul-2013
10:27:08 AM
I've left cheques in the past and they've been banked by PV.

Thanks Kevin, i hadn't thought of leaving my card.

Climboholic
26-Jul-2013
11:19:41 AM
Sorry that you got caught out if you had the intention to pay, but I would have been disappointed with the Ranger if he accepted your excuse. You must understand that it is reasonable to expect to pay upfront, otherwise people would do runners without paying all the time.

Lesson learned - a small degree of organisation is needed to have enough cash for camping fees. Thanks for posting so others can learn from your mistake.
rolsen1
26-Jul-2013
12:40:31 PM
On 24/07/2013 naw26 wrote:
>I'm a relative newcomer to Arapiles having only been once before and relied
>on 'word of mouth' and the 2008 Mentz + Tempest guidebook to guide me with
>the Pines payment system '$2 a night and $3 if the ranger collects'.
>
>Well d'uh you say, paying your campground fees (now risen to $4 a night)
>is important for maintaining facilities etc etc.
>
>Having not enough cash to pay for the amount of nights I'd like to (paying
>for my girlfriend too) I thought I could wait for my next trip into Horsham
>to get money out.
>
>Into Horsham on the 5th night, leave it to the morning to pay. On that
>morning, the ranger comes around and gives me a penalty notice of $180
>for not displaying a permit- despite my protestations that we were actually
>going to pay ("that's what they ALL say mate") Apparently warnings had
>been given on the past year to the climbers to pay their fees (never been
>there or heard of said warnings) and there were no signs up anywhere to
>tell us this or the payment method or consequences.
>
>So to my shock, and many other surprised faces in the campground.
>
>Has this been a well-known fact around the Pines or is it a sudden need
>of revenue on that particular day? (he didn't come around again during
>my 18 day stay). (A quick look showed a post last year of possible warnings
>but nothing concrete?) I'm more embarrassed than anything else really..
>

There probably is an appeal system if you want to go down that path. Might need to do a stat dec or write a letter to someone with the authority to wipe the fine. I done this for not having a ticket on public transport (twice), a speeding fine and failing to vote.

I've written notes before on the payment envelope explaining that I'm short because I didn't have the right change and when I planned to rectify that. Before anyone, says anything I've also put in extra when I didn't have the correct change but had close enough not to worry. Not sure if a note would work though.

ChuckNorris
26-Jul-2013
8:55:41 PM
On the traffic infringes thing - you can get off one minor traffic offence per year with a letter giving extenuating circumstances. Most people don't know and or don't bother.

On the other hand you could just accept that you broke a rule and should suck it up like a princess and pay the disproportionate fine.

 Page 1 of 3. Messages 1 to 20 | 21 to 40 | 41 to 45
There are 45 messages in this topic.

 

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