Nyngan and the RV friendly story
Quote:
Nyngan Welcomes Visitors
Since Council’s decision at its meeting on 23 May 2013 to not allow free camping at our showground for self-contained motor homes, campervans and caravans for up to 96 hours (4 days and nights) a lot of emails, letters and adverse comments have come our way.
We would like to take the opportunity to respond to all who have made submissions to us:
1. Nothing has changed. Our attitude to any travellers passing through Nyngan remains that they are welcome to stop, stay and shop in our friendly town. No “gates” have been put up at the entrances to our town to divert anybody.
2. There are a number of areas in Nyngan, some along the highway and main street where self-contained motor homes, campervans, caravans and other travelling vehicles can pull up and stop overnight. Some of these, including the Teamster’s Rest and Flood Memorial Park, have adjacent clean toilets. More information about overnight stopping areas is available from the Nyngan Visitor’s Information Centre based at the Nyngan Museum, telephone 6832 1052 or Council offices on 6835 9000.
3. One of our parking areas, the Teamster’s Rest in our main street has a Waste Dump Point (since 2009) freely available to all self-contained recreational vehicles.
4. Nyngan is a safe town with no law and order problems. We are a 24/7 alcohol free zone – preventing consumption of alcohol along our streets and public car parks, thus making our town much safer for those who choose to stop overnight.
5. We have a “dog off-leash area” between the river and the levee bank near our Engineering depot. Dogs are not allowed at the showground.
6. We have never had the blue RV Friendly Town signs erected on the approaches to Nyngan. There are signs directing caravans to parking areas in the main street on the approaches to town. We have erected a “no unauthorised camping” sign at our showground. Authorised camping arrangements for events and for people travelling with horses can, however, be made by contacting Council on 6835 9000.
7. Not all towns in NSW, or Australia, have the RV Friendly Town signs or agreement / status. Therefore, in all fairness, shouldn’t all those who have contacted and criticised us, direct similar messages to all these towns?
8. Unfortunately, at the showground camping area some campers and travellers were taking advantage of the power and other amenities despite signs advising them of the need to be self-contained.
9. We understand that not all campers and travellers need to, or wish to stay at Caravan Parks. However, Council was not prepared to allow free camping for up to 96 hours at our showground. Some travellers who took advantage of this may have otherwise spent some time at our Caravan Parks.
10. Our Council, town, businesses and people continue to extend a friendly, safe welcome to all travellers passing through Nyngan and hope they will stop, stay and shop.
Ray Donald…………………………………………………Derek Francis
Mayor………………………………………………………..General Manager
Nyngan was never discussed here, so I will give a brief background to this announcement. In 2011 the town of Nyngan in New South Wales moved towards becoming a CMCA RVFT. To meet the requirements, the Shire provided up to 96 hours free camping for fully self contained at the Showground. At the May Council Meeting, letters from the two caravan park operators were tabled where they put up a case against the free camping claiming they were losing business. On the strength of this, the showground was closed to independent camping and the town withdrew from the CMCA scheme.
At the Council Meeting last Friday, following submissions from the public and from other businesses in the town, the above decisions were made.
