Caravan & Residential Parks Victoria is again calling on the Victorian Government to urgently address problems with its free camping policy and expand the initiative to include regulated parks to reduce the growing issue of ‘ghost camping’.
In January, the Herald Sun reported that as many as 10 of the 24 sites at Corringle Foreshore Campground (near Marlo) were unoccupied despite being booked out.
The April school holidays, and Easter long weekend, again saw state government free camp sites remain near empty, resulting in significant economic losses for regional communities and frustration among genuine campers.
Unlike unregulated free camps, privately operated caravan (tourist) parks operate under strict regulation and offer safe, affordable and family-friendly camping experiences with access to clean amenities, emergency infrastructure and professional onsite staff.
They also play a vital role in regional economies, with tourist parks accounting for over 50% of overnight stays in regional Victoria, contributing $2.4 billion in economic value to the state, and supporting 17,000 jobs.
Since 1 December 2024, private tourist parks have been operating in an unfair market, forced by the Victorian Government to compete with free, unregulated camp sites, eroding private park occupancy rates, revenue and profitability.
Two months ago, Caravan & Residential Parks Victoria CEO Scott Parker provided the Minister for Tourism Steve Dimopoulos with several options to support private tourist park businesses and the thousands of private park campers who have sought the same financial benefit as those camping for free in Parks Victoria campgrounds.
“If the goal is to make outdoor holidays more affordable and accessible, regulated tourist parks must be part of the solution,” Mr Parker said.
“For example, providing campers in private caravan (tourist) parks with a voucher worth a similar discount to that which the government is providing campers in their own unregulated campgrounds would give Victorians more choice, provide much greater support for our small business operators and avoid some of the waste created by a poorly managed free booking system.”
“Victorians would be able to redeem camping credits at either public sites or our regulated member tourist parks,” Mr Parker said.
Caravan & Residential Parks Victoria is urging the Victorian Government to immediately engage with industry and implement reforms that restore credibility to the initiative and ensure equitable support for the businesses that serve as the backbone of regional tourism.
