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In the north-western region, the affected locations include Forth Recreation Ground, Midway Point in Sulphur Creek, and Bannons Park in Gunns Plains.
A newly implemented permit system will regulate camping, permitting a maximum stay of three nights per site for vehicles like campervans and RVs. Additionally, the use of tents and open fires will be prohibited.
Samantha Searle, the Director of Corporate Services for the council, explained to nine.com.au that this permit system aims to enhance the management of camping and RV visits throughout the Central Coast.
“The modest fee collected will be reinvested directly into the upkeep and improvement of facilities, safeguarding the natural environment, and ensuring equitable access to camping sites,” she noted.
“Moreover, it aligns with the council’s RV and Camping Strategy, supporting broader plans to enrich the visitor experience, bolster tourism, and facilitate future infrastructure enhancements that will benefit both tourists and the local community,” Searle added.
It follows a proposal by the NSW national parks service to standardise camping fees across the board following a rise in “ghost camping”.
A consultation paper released last year, of which the submissions are yet to be released, outlined a “significant” change to the NSW Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS), the first since 2017.
The tiered system would see fees increased, particularly during the busy season.
For most campers, fees would increase in high season and be cheaper in low season, the NPWS said.
“For example, a family of four currently pays $68/night in a beachfront campground (tier 6), but with the proposed tiered system they would pay $89/night in high season or $54/night in low season,” the consultation paper stated.
The fees would be introduced to encourage cancellations and discourage ghost camping or no-shows, where travellers book but don’t ever arrive to claim their spot.
The NPWS said it had considered alternative approaches, including a “first-come, first-served” model, 100 per cent refunds for cancellations or fines for no-shows, but found it “difficult” to enforce.
Around 23,000 people responded to the submission.
The NPWS is now in the process of reviewing the feedback.
Ghost camping is a nationwide issue that has prompted government responses in multiple states.
The move wiped out $7.3 million in annual booking fees for campers but it’s come at another high cost – campsites sitting empty.