Tasmanian Councils: stop banning "Free camping"   I'm a free camper, but I spend money in your towns too!   More and more Tassie Councils seem to be adopting a "competitive neutrality" policy, as explained to me by Georgetown Council. The aim is to not have Council free camps compete over business with commercial caravan parks.  What Councils seem to fail to recognise is that "free campers" spend money in local towns as well and that forcing people to (often booked out) caravan parks hurts the local economy more than it does good. Because what they are doing is making little difference to caravan parks, but hurting town businesses like servo's, supermarkets, hairdressers, bakeries, butchers, mechanics, tourism operators, general hospitality and anything else you can think of. Free campers are different to caravan park visitors, we don't want (or need) power, flushing toilets, be close to town, play grounds, showers and the likes topped off with the fact you'll be paying upwards of $40/night to be sitting virtually on top of each other. It's a different user group that Councils now seem to be turning away from their area.

I'll go into more detail: Free campers come in many shapes and sizes and the reasons for choosing free camps vary the same way. Personally I'm a low budget traveller, work, save, then travel. But there's more than a financial reason to free camp, I prefer to stay away from people and I travel with my dog. Staying away from people won't happen at a caravan park, with most parks trying to get as many paying sites as possible in their property. For my dog it's no fun either, even IF allowed, she needs to remain on lead at all times and isn't to be left unattended, tricky at times for solo travellers.  Backpackers (foreign) are a massive source of income to the tourism industry and a clamping down on free camping nation wide together with the huge cost of accommodation (and everything else really), it's no surprise only few have returned after covid.  Then there's the full time travellers, often retired, well set up for free camping and obviously trying to match their spendings to their income. Nature! Yes, I free camp mainly to be out in nature! I prefer remote or secluded spots, but anything that doesn't make you feel like you may as well sit at your neighbours table will do as long as I have the sounds and smells of nature, a good view is a bonus. No doubt I've forgotten more reason for myself and others. The simple fact is: if there's no free camp option, I won't be staying, I refuse to use a caravan park! And I'm sure I'm not alone.   Councils, start thinking big picture. It's like having a big event in town: you don't just make money off the entry fees, you make money off people being in the area, doing things, spending money.  Your greater community is losing out over this uneducated, narrow minded policy!   I hope you change your minds, on behalf of all free campers, Thank you