Last Monday’s editorial predicting a backlash to restricted camping at the Mudgee Showground has proved to be correct. Numerous responses to the Mudgee Guardian’s website and readers’ poll back up Gulgong Showground campers’ warning that many travellers will bypass Mudgee if they cannot camp at the showground.
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Some of the criticism has been directed at Mudgee caravan park manager Brett Swords, whose objections to proposals to upgrade camping facilities at the showground prompted Mid-Western Regional Council to allow camping there only when caravan parks are full and at a higher cost. In fairness to Mr Swords, in his address to council he did not ask councillors to do this, requesting only that the showgrounds compete on “a level playing field” by not upgrading the showground camping facilities.
By effectively banning showground camping at all but the busiest times, council went beyond levelling the playing field and tried to tilt it in favour of caravan parks. Unfortunately, council underestimated travellers’ reaction and the extent of their networks, and the potential effect on other Mudgee businesses and on the town’s image as a welcoming place.
Travellers who favour showgrounds have pointed out that what they save on camping fees is spent in local businesses.
Rather than being seen as unfairly competing with commercial enterprises, providing affordable showground camping should be regarded as a way of supporting local businesses, including caravan parks who would benefit from favourable feedback for Mudgee through the obviously wide-reaching caravanners’ network.
It’s clear what irks some travellers most is council’s attempt to dictate where they will stay. Sadly, their answer seems to be: “Anywhere but Mudgee”.
If council wanted to level the playing field, a less heavy-handed approach would be to match commercial parks’ fees, and let travellers decide if they still want to stay at the showgrounds at this cost.
