- Published:
- Thursday 2 April 2015
As of today, Victorian families can have a more affordable holiday and get the chance to experience our regional national parks.
Minister for Environment, Lisa Neville, today announced that unfair basic camping fees enforced by the previous Coalition Government will be scrapped ahead of the Easter break.
The fees imposed under the Coalition made camping expensive for families, affected school camps and buried Parks Victoria in red tape.
From now on, over 500 basic camping sites over 70 campgrounds in 19 parks throughout regional Victoria will have no fees.
The bookings system for these sites will remain in place until 1 July 2015. Customers who have made a booking between now and 1 July will be refunded automatically by Parks Victoria, but the bookings will still be honoured.
A basic site is defined as unserviced, with minimal ranger patrols and pit or no-pit toilets. From 1 July 2015, these sites will no longer require booking and will be available on a first- come, first-served basis.
The Andrews Labor Government has asked Parks Victoria to review all other camping options to make sure we are getting the balance right between affordable holidays and funding for new facilities.
For more information on walks, activities and what’s open to visitors during school holidays and the Easter break, please visit www.parks.vic.gov.au(opens in a new window) or call 13 1963.
Quotes attributable to the Minister for Environment, Lisa Neville
“We want Victorian families to have an affordable holiday and get a chance to experience our great national parks.”
“The Coalition reduced Parks Victoria funding by $88 million since 2011, making families pay – charging them a fee for pitching a tent in a park.”
“You can’t put a price on the beauty of our national parks. They make our state liveable. Go out and visit one this Easter break.”