End to free camping at Lake Proserpine as WRC sets fees, appoints caretakers

New fees come into effect at the famous fishing spot next month. Find out how much visitors will pay for a more ‘controlled’ experience.

A free campground at Lake Proserpine, aka Peter Faust dam, will become a paid facility when caretakers move in next month.

Overnight camping fees will come into effect at Lake Proserpine next month, with Whitsunday Regional Council today announcing the amounts they will charge visitors to cover the costs of “24-hour surveillance” at the popular fishing spot.

From July 19, adults will be charged $8 per night, children between the ages of 4 and 14 $4 a night, and families (two adults, two children) $20 a night.

The fees are primarily to help the council pay for caretakers to manage and supervise the site, which councillors considered necessary after increasing reports of vandalism.

The council on Wednesday awarded Camp Kanga’s Kristopher Walker and Helena Williamson the 12-month, $180,000 caretakers’ contract, finding they had the necessary experience and knowledge of the site by virtue of operating a similar business nearby.

The council’s Aviation and Tourism Operator Craig Turner told the meeting Mr Walker and Ms Williamson and a team of four staff would attend the campground from 8am to 5pm every day, with all campers advised on check-in of an after-hours contact number, and given a token to display on the outside of their vehicles to indicate they have paid for their stay.

Should any issues arise outside the office hours, the caretakers should be able to attend within three minutes, Mr Turner said, and existing three times nightly security patrols would also continue.

Mr Turner said the caretakers and associated camping fees would result in an improved, “controlled” experience for visitors through increased supervision, maintenance, and cleaning.

He said any profits generated through the introduction of fees would be “driven back into the facility to improve it”.