Tassie free camping debate

Post by **robcaz** » Sun Feb 10, 2019 10:28 am

Hi all,

New rules handed down by the Tasmanian State Government may force some councils to charge full costs for a number of previously free camping sites or prove the provision of the public campsites benefits the community.

A report from the Department of Treasury and Finance has moved to ensure councils or other public entities involved in providing campsites, are competing on fair and equal terms with private sector businesses and must limit their public, non-powered campsites to no more than 10 per cent of all camping offerings within a 60 km radius. If the number goes above 10 per cent, councils must either start charging full costs for the sites or prove the public sites provide a public benefit.

The rules debate over free camping, sparked by businesses opposed to camping and overnight RV parking at several council locations around Tasmania, resulted in complaints investigated by the Economic Regulator and a review by a treasury led steering committee.