NZ City Benefits from Camping Education
The New Zealand city of Rotorua is benefitting from a nationwide campaign to better educate camping tourists.
The "Where Can I Camp?" campaign provides information to travellers through hostel noticeboards, campervan companies and various websites.
A Rotorua District Council spokesperson has said that despite a constant presence of campervans in the district, there have not been any recent complaints about inappropriate behaviour.
They also said that the Council is very concious of the image it portrays to travellers and that it is important to take a pragmatic approach - making visitors feel welcome by focussing on education instead of launching straight into enforcement.
Man charged after caravan park assault
A Port Fairy man has been charged with bashing a caravan park patron over the head with a beer bottle.
The 18 year old faced charges of recklessly causing injury, assault with an instrument, assault and trespassing.
The victim, aged in his 40's, required medical attention for deep lacerations. The man was camping in the caravan park with his wife and two children.
It is alleged that the assault happened after the father approached a group of young men and confronted them about their loud and drunken behaviour, and in an ensuing scuffle was hit on the head.
Proposed tourism boost for Orange
Allowing people to camp at Lake Canobolas would be a big boost to tourism in Orange, according to camping enthusiasts.
Over the weekend around 20 motorhomes registered with the Campervan and Motorhome Club of Australia Golden West Wanderers branch stayed at the lake after attaining permission from council.
Golden West Wanderer member and Orange resident Pat Tilston says it is an experience more people should be able to enjoy.
“It’s a lovely atmosphere out here,” he said.
“It’s as good a place as any we’ve been to and hope to be back next year.
“I’m surprised just how many people came up to us and asked how we were able to camp out here.”
Mr Tilston said many people who owned motorhomes simply passed through the city as there were no free or cheap overnight options to stay.
“They have no reason to pay $30 to $40 a night for a caravan park when they have everything they need already.”
Orange City Council adopted a plan in November 2006 to allow for the development of accommodation and camping facilities at the lake, pending approval from Cabonne Council.
In the $900,000 plan six tourist cabins, caravan facilities, amenities and an office would be established north of Lake Canobolas near the existing ranger’s office.
An additional $300,000 plan has also been adopted by Orange City Council to establish 23 camping pods in a woodland setting on the western side of Molong Creek.
Council will be using the weekend camping trip by Golden West Wanderers as a trial to view the effects of camping at Lake Canobolas, according to Orange City Council city presentation manager Nigel Hobden.
“This is being used as a trial to see what impacts this has on users at the lake,” he said.
He said council hadn’t pursued the establishment of camping facilities at the lake due to higher priorities needing to be addressed.
The Lake House operator Ben Crawley at Lake Canobolas said camping at the site would be a good idea only if it were closely monitored.
“I’m in support of trying to get more activities out at the lake, but it needs to be controlled,” he said.
“There needs to be a lot of thought put in to it and campers will need to respect the reserve.”