Regional caravan park owners have been abandoned by the Premier Jacinta Allan who has refused to acknowledge the impact her free camping in national parks scheme will have on caravan park operators, according to Nationals MP, Melina Bath.
Raising her concerns in State Parliament recently, The Nationals’ Melina Bath said caravan parks located near national parks will undoubtedly lose vital income.
“Listening to caravan park owners and managers, from Orbost to Foster and Waratah Bay, I know Labor’s decision is already causing distress for businesses who rely on tourism to survive.
“Campers in our caravan parks are a vital part of our regional economy, helping to sustain jobs and generating needed income.
“Potential tourists have already asked licensees if they can ‘match the state government’s free camping offer’ – unfairly they simply can’t compete and pay wages and operating costs.
“These small businesses have been hit hard by Labor, suffering years of covid lockdowns, higher taxes and sky rocketing electricity bills – Les Heyne from East Gippsland cites a 40 per cent increase in his park’s power bills.
“In her response to my request for support for regional businesses, the Premier arrogantly but unsurprisingly dismissed their plight.”
Speaking in parliament, Ms Bath highlighted the Victorian Caravan Park Association’s fairer alternative of introducing a voucher program that could be used at all camp grounds, which was rejected by the Allan Government.
“National park camping fees were already low so there was no need for the Allan Government to make them free,” said Ms Bath.
“The $25.7 million derived state wide from camping fees in national parks subsidised the cost of repairs to infrastructure.
“Labor continues to slash Parks Victoria jobs, cut maintenance, weed and pest control and our public spaces are suffering, so removing this revenue stream is negligent.
“The Premier’s claim that she’s delivering genuine cost of living relief is disingenuous spin.
“Labor can’t manage our national parks, can’t manage money and regional Victorians are paying the price.”
