Camping in New England High Country national parks could get a whole lot more expensive under a new tiered fee system proposed by the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS).
Free campgrounds like Dangars Gorge and Kings Plain Creek that currently only have a $6 booking fee would cost $36 per site per night in high season (Summer and school holidays) and $20 per night in low season. Both these campgrounds fit into Tier 3 in the NSW NPWS ‘Improving camping in NSW national parks’ consultation paper as they include pit toilets, tables and barbecues.
Cypress Pine campground in the Boonoo Boonoo National Park appears to also be in Tier 3. It currently has a nightly fee of $12 per adult and $6 per child, so there would be no increase in cost for a family of four and would become cheaper in low season.
Tier 2–5 campgrounds, which NPWS says makes up around 86 per cent of their camping spots in NSW, are proposed to have fees aligned with the range of services provided, quality of facilities and visitor demand. Suggested new fees for these campgrounds range from $22 to $65 per site per night in high season and $13 to $38 in low season.
Teir 1 campgrounds have no facilities and are recommended to become free with no booking fees. Tier 2 camping spots have just a pit toilet, Tiers 4 and 5 have shelters, flush toilets and cold showers. Tier 6 campgrounds are those with the luxury of a hot shower and would cost $89 per night in peak season.
NSW NPWS says the camping fee review aims to address three key issues raised in consultations with 200,000 national park visitors. These were “ghost bookings “or people not turning up to booked sites, a lack of staff at campgrounds and the need for better maintenance of facilities.
It says the benefits of the proposed changes include more consistent and equitable camping fees linked to services, facilities and demand, the removal of additional fees and more generous cancellation refunds.
The NSW National Party sees little benefit and has labelled in a cash grab from families in a cost-of-living crisis.
“This is an outrageous money grab from the Minns Labor Government and it will place some of our state’s most treasured natural assets behind a paywall,” said Shadow Minister for Tourism Kevin Anderson.
“Tourism is the lifeblood of our regional communities and Labor’s plan will mean visitors have less money to spend in our local towns, cafés, pubs, clubs, and businesses.
“Instead of restricting access to our National Parks, the government should be supporting tourism by building more campgrounds and making them more accessible so people can enjoy the great outdoors.”
Member for Northern Tablelands Brendan Moylan said he was “incredibly concerned” about the proposal.
“The Northern Tablelands is full of picturesque and accessible national parks which brings a significant number of tourists to the region,” Mr Moylan said.
“If the cost of camping in our national parks increases, other parts of the region will suffer including small businesses like cafés and pubs.”
Public submissions on consultation paper close this Sunday, 25 May. Campers can make a submission or complete our online survey at haveyoursay.nsw.gov.au/camping.
Here are some examples of proposed fee changes for National Park campgrounds in the New England High Country.
Bellbird campground- Washpool National Park
Facilities- non-flush toilets, barbeques and picnic tables
Current fee: $6 per night per adult (16 years+). $3.50 per night per child (5-15 years)
Proposed new fee: $36 per night per site in high season, $20 in low season
Kings Plains Creek campground- Kings Plains National Park
Facilities- non-flush toilets, barbeques and picnic tables
Current fee- no camping fees. A $6 booking fee applies.
Proposed new fee: $36 per night per site in high season, $20 in low season
Dangars Gorge campground- Oxley Rivers National Park
Facilities- non-flush toilets, barbeques and picnic tables
Current fee- no camping fees. A $6 booking fee applies.
Proposed new fee: $36 per night per site in high season, $20 in low season
Cypress Pine campground- Boonoo Boonoo National Park
Facilities- non-flush toilets, barbeques and picnic tables
Current fee- nightly fee of $12 per adult and $6 per child
Proposed new fee- $36 per night per site in high season, $20 in low season
Boundary Falls- Gibraltar Range National Park
Facilities- non-flush toilets, barbeques and picnic tables
Current fee- Nightly fee of $6 per night and $3.50 per child
Proposed new fee- $36 per night per site in high season, $20 in low season
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