Parks Vic camping fees reduced

[CaptainC]

According to the VNPA Parks Vic have reduced camping fees in many spots. http://vnpa.org.au/page/publications/na ... mping-fees
The Victorian Government has dropped camping fees for a range of Victoria's parks in time for summer. The changes will take effect as of Friday 18 December and follow the removal of fees at 500 basic campsites earlier this year.
The fee for camping at mid-level campsites has been reduced from $38.90 to $28 per site in peak season and will affect 48 campgrounds around the state, including Borough Huts and Jimmy Creek in the Grampians National Park, and popular sites in the Great Otway National Park including Johanna Beach, Blanket Bay and Aire River West, and Bear Gully at Cape Liptrap Coastal Park.

Fees to camp at the popular boat-based campgrounds at Bunga Arm in the Gippsland Lakes Coastal Park will drop from $38.90 per site to $21 per site.
Fifty-five campgrounds around the state have had their fees reduced. Parks Victoria will process refunds for these campgrounds.
If you booked from 18 December 2015 you should be automatically refunded for the reduced fees by Parks Victoria. The bookings will still be honoured. You should not need to contact Parks Victoria - refunds should be processed for everyone with a booking.
Fees now apply at 116 campgrounds in 29 parks. There are 680 campgrounds in 133 parks across Victoria, fees apply in 17% of campgrounds.
The VNPA has long believed there should not be fees for entry into public parks, although fees may be acceptable for 'special services'.

[Xplora]

Fees were no doubt introduced for popular sites to control the numbers and provide some order. Unfortunately many sites where fees are charged do not provided very good services. I can understand fees for those busy times in the popular places however during the off season fees should not apply at all. I have found the rangers are less than enthusiastic about collecting them during the off season. I was told by a ranger at Buffalo that camping fees may soon be introduced at all camping sites but then there was a change of government. Not sure if it is still on the agenda. I will never camp at Buffalo again.

[Lophophaps]

If a challenge had been mounted, a court would have ruled that the Victorian fees are contrary to the Commonwealth Australian Consumer Law. PV would have to have staff at every remote site to ensure that nobody camped on a platform that had been allocated to another party.

Section 61 of ACL relates to fitmess for a particular purpose.
"Services must be reasonably fit for a purpose that a consumer, expressly or by implication, makes known to the supplier. Services must also be of a nature, quality, state and condition such that they can be expected to achieve a result that the consumer makes known to the supplier"
Essentially, PV cannot guarantee delivery or availability of a platform. Ergo, the fee are illegal.

Apart form the very fair Tassie Parks Pass, I have not paid for bush campoing in 20 years. Don't intend to pay.

[Lophophaps]

See
http://parkweb.vic.gov.au/__data/assets ... hedule.pdf
Can anyone advise if this applies to formal campsites and dispersed or "remote" campsites? My undertanding is that the fees apply to places like The Prom, Mt Buffalo, Hattah and the like where there's a designated campsite. Other places that do not have formal campsites - including 100 metres or more from camping platforms - do not have fees. Is my understanding correct?

[neilmny]

Fees do not apply to dispersed campsites such as beyond 100 metres from platforms.
Fees do apply to some remote camp sites where a booking and fee is stipulated - ie. Rocky Creek and Mount Mcleod Mt. Buffallo NP.
Where ever your thinking of going Google it "Camping blah blah" then see if Parks Vic comes up with something regarding "book your stay".
One thing is for sure, you won't find much and/or clear information on dispersed camping on the Parks Vic website.

[paidal_chalne_vala]

It is always worded so the that Parks Vic. rangers don't have to collect money from people in the middle of nowhere. It is usually worded ambiguously because some knob from a real life version of "Yes Minister" decided this would all be a good idea , like it or not !.