Free camping: East Gippsland park owner Les Heyne competes with state government initiative

Holiday-makers are flocking to free camp sites, with the exception of the Grampians, in a head-to-head battle with private park owner.

Privately-owned caravan park operators are bracing for the full impact of free camping in Parks Victoria’s 131 previously paid camping grounds with the exception of the Grampians over coming weeks.

The Victorian government’s free camping offer officially began on December 1, but the Christmas-New Year period signalled the start of the busiest time for park owners.

Les Heyne, who operates caravan parks at Orbost and Marlo in East Gippsland, is going head-to-head with free camping at nearby Cape Conran this summer.

He said bookings at his two parks were on par with other years for the next two or three weeks before anticipating the toughest period to be the tail end of the school holidays in late January.

“One thing we’ve been get asked many times is ‘have we dropped our prices to compete?’” Mr Heyne said.

“We haven’t got a biscuit barrel where I can reach in and take public funds to support myself.

“I’ve got rent, insurance, power, to pay.

“Costs have gone through the roof so we can’t be knocking off our prices to compete with national parks.

“Truth be known they (the state government) shouldn’t be either with the state of the economy at the moment.”

Cape Conran in East Gippsland is a mecca for summer tourists. Picture: Supplied

The free camping initiative that runs from December 1 to June 30 next year is costing taxpayers $9m.

It was on offer in the Grampians, but became off limits at locations including Buandik, Smiths Mill, Jimmy Creek and Stapylton due to a major bushfire that started from a lightning strike before Christmas and has now burnt more than 70,000ha.

Mr Heyne said the cost of power at his Marlo park alone had risen from $33,000 to $86,000 in the last two years with the region also badly affected by Black Summer 2019-20 bushfires followed by two summers of pandemic restrictions.

He said the government had missed the mark with its intended beneficiaries of the cost-of-living initiative.

“The people who should be benefiting from having free camping aren’t the ones who are benefiting,” he said.

“They can’t afford the fuel to get here.”

Victorian Environment Minister Steve Dimopoulos. Picture: NewsWire / Diego Fedele

Environment Minister Steve Dimopoulos said this month: “Busy families deserve a great holiday in our great outdoor.

“With 100,000 nights already booked we know Victorians will be making incredible memories in nature thanks to free camping.

“We’re making camping accessible to every Victorian.”

Originally published as Free camping: East Gippsland park owner Les Heyne competes with state government initiative