‘We’re not unfriendly’

After a hotly debated discussion among travellers across the nation about Nyngan’s reversal of its Recreational Vehicle (RV) Friendly Town, two elected leaders are trying to turn the tide on the controversial issue.

Deputy mayor Jim Hampstead told the Nyngan Observer a divided council recently voted to revoke the town’s friendly status.

“We didn’t declare we’re an unfriendly town,’’ he said.

The council resolved ‘No unauthorised camping at Showground’ signs be erected. 

Before withdrawing the RV Friendly Town status, self-contained motorhomes, campervans and caravans were provided with free parking at the showground for up to 96 hours.

The council had signed up to the scheme in December 2011 but recent opportunistic use of the toilets and showers at the showground caused the council to reconsider its friendly policy.

Cr Hampstead said it was not right for some people to use the shire’s electricity as the vehicles were meant to be self-contained. 

The owners of the Riverside Caravan Park and the Nyngan Leisure and Van Park raised concerns about the scheme affecting competition with their businesses.

“We do not accept that there should be amendment or better policing of the current RV arrangements at the showground,’’ Bruce Maynard, the owner of the Nyngan Leisure and Van Park, wrote to the council.

“We expect the shire to discontinue all subsidising of visitors -  that a policy of “no free camping in Bogan Shire’’ be instituted. Why should non-ratepayers be supported by ratepayers?’’

The letter also stated that people who used the free service purchased their main supplies out of town and had no intention to make major purchases in local shops.

“On equity issues alone it would seem strange that pensioner ratepayers within the shire are paying for self-funded retiree holidays,’’ Mr Maynard wrote. 

The Nyngan Observer contacted the caravan parks however spokespeople declined to comment on the matter. 

Cr Hampstead said the council did not want to run in opposition with private business.

When asked if the shire could have policed the scheme he replied it would be “impossible’’ and there was no money in the coffers to hire a caretaker to do the job.

Mayor Ray Donald said the council did not cave in to pressure from the town’s caravan parks but took their concerns into account when voting to withdraw from the scheme.

Cr Donald believed the decision was the right balance between keeping the businesses competitive and welcoming RV to town.

“Our free waste receptacles to empty sewage is still available on the main street, it hasn’t changed,’’ he said.

RV  campers warn of bad image

Nyngan could pay a high cost and have a bad image deterring would-be travellers, RV campers warn.

One traveller wrote to the Nyngan Observer calling on the council not to let “a small number of greedy stakeholders’’ hold the town to ransom.

Caravaners spend, on average, between $600 to $800 per week per van in the town if they were offered a free place to stay the night. 

The general manager’s report to council said anecdotal evidence from showground users suggested people who used the free facility provided an economic benefit to Nyngan.

They also passed the word on to friends and acquaintances that Nyngan was a good place to visit.

“It has been suggested that the type of people making use of this facility do not want to use a caravan park and that they would choose to travel on to the next town or stop at the side of the highway if self-contained overnight accommodation wasn’t available,’’ the general manager said.

Mayor Ray Donald said he had not seen the local economy losing money or the town getting a bad image due to the withdrawal of the RV Friendly Town.

Deputy mayor Jim Hampstead added he did not think travellers would boycott the town as a result of the council’s decision.

“People are still stopping by and buying things and filling up,’’ he said.

“I don’t think it will affect the local economy.’’

Bruce Maynard, the owner of the Nyngan Leisure and Van Park, in his submission to the council stated a ‘no free camping’ policy “would not deter any visitors to our area nor seem ‘unfriendly’ for visitors’’.

“As ratepayers we don’t want to continue to support holidays of people from out of the shire,’’ he wrote. We would not think that other ratepayers are supportive of providing free services that don’t benefit the shire.’’