Litchfield businesses split on NT government plan to introduce fees to visit Territory parks

BUSINESS owners near Litchfield National Park have mixed feelings about the introduction of park entry fees, with some saying it will help with essential park maintenance and others concerned it will kill business.

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• Territory park fee plan to include online booking system, charges for walking trails and higher cost for camping spots
• Territorians and tourists to be charged fees to use NT parks like Litchfield and Nitmuluk

BUSINESS owners near Litchfield National Park have mixed feelings about the introduction of park entry fees, with some saying it will help with essential park maintenance and others concerned it will kill business.

It comes after the NT News reported on Saturday that the NT government would introduce fees and raise camping costs for visitors at parks, including Litchfield and Nitmiluk, from July.

Litchfield Motel manager Roisin McElwee said the introduction of fees was another blow after an incredibly difficult year.

Ms McElwee said the fact Litchfield was cheap and accessible was what saved her business.

“It’s ridiculous,” she said.

“We had over 60,000 cancellations from interstate and international visitors when everything closed down (because of COVID-19).”

Florence Falls in Litchfield National Park. Picture: Supplied

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Ms McElwee said she was sceptical about whether the money raised in fees would go to where it was needed in the park.

“They’re opening five new areas with the funding going through taxpayers’ money,” she said.

“But that was happening anyway, so where is this money going?”

Litchfield Tourist Park owner and manager Shelly Haitana said the government was in need of another source of funding for important park maintenance.

“They’re not a cheap thing to run, a lot of the rangers are stretched thin on the ground,” Ms Haitana said.

“The government is barely covering running costs as it is.”

Ms Haitana said she didn’t believe the introduction of fees would deter visitors.

“We get a lot of visitors that are surprised that there’s not a charge – that’s why people come to the NT, to see these parks.”

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According to a poll conducted by ntnews.com.au, as of yesterday 37 per cent of readers said they would not pay a fee to use the Territory’s parks, and 30 per cent said visitors should pay but Territorians should not.

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