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Mt Arapiles - Camping fee booking changes 1st July 8-Aug-2014 At 4:01:28 PM HandyAndyCap

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Interesting when viewed from the more evident neoliberal ideological lens these days.

For some reason(s) the more equitable 'user pays' for park access is not to be considered. Given the stated motivations for fee increases and the scale of the fee rise, the heavy lifting in fee for service recovery is not being shared by day trippers and those requiring vehicle access to park areas. While some of us, as diligent tax payers, we would rather have free access, not all agree with that collective approach. At the very least, access fees such as in Tasmania and the US, supplement those taxes in a reasonably flexible way. Those seeking accommodation/camping services generally pay a bit more on top for that service too.

The strategy of taxing a subset of park users who wish to stay, camping or otherwise, at a park's accommodation facilities can be seen as a provocation. It's obviously inequitable but those who still wish to and can still afford to under the 'site' model, will keep paying, or at least start paying. So the Government hopes.

What of the rest? Those who protest, boycott or sleep-it-and-beat-it? I'm not sure the negative reaction is what worries the Government strategy at all. It may actually bolster it.

From what I read people are already finding better deals from the private operators around the parks even though they offer far more than is required such as holiday camps and caravan parks. I can see a scenario evolving, which as a conspiracy of sequence is better by dot point. Call me paranoid but what if:

- Regular campers seeking cheaper camping take patronage offsite to private operations.

- The private operators realise there is also profit from basic services and may begin to offer less expensive options.

- Increasing the patronage of private campers, decreasing the uptake of the park campgrounds.

- Park camping services still cost even though they are under-utilised.

- Bean counters twiddle their beards and propose that some park camping services are unsustainable and should be closed.

- Shock-horror. Forums overheat.

- A bill is pushed through to contract out the administration and maintenance of the campgrounds to commercial operators (who are doing very well now from a larger and broader client base thank you).

- The government can divest itself of camping services, commercial operators merely expand as they already have the administration overheads from being in the business (and some may have recently expanded budget services on the edge of the parks).

- HOWEVER... There is a sweetener that may be offered/asked for and the commercial operators can claim that operating basic camping services does not offer enough profit for the effort and the only way to make the venture profitable and sustainable is to allow premium services as well.

- The less wedgy end of Cabins and resorts are pushed at the planning processes.

- Planning processes are relaxed as the parks are allegedly being starved of funds due to reduced patronage.

- Tax funds are further reduced to parks as camping services are now not a Government service or revenue stream.

- Parks are starved of funds and revenue streams.

- Then we might see the gates and general entrance fees as well.

My crystal ball is foggy though.