NT set to introduce mandatory online booking for campsites

Sadly, it is more than rumour.

The NT Minister for Parks and Rangers is Selena Uibo.
email address is minister.uibo@nt.gov.au
phone is 08 89365529

email or call and ask them to deny or refute. I can guarantee they won't

Thanks S2. I've emailed her and messaged the Dept. Let you know what the response is.

I believe that this has been mentioned on this site before. I think member “Kakadu” (I think that is his “moniker” on here), mentioned something about this either earlier this year, or last year. I could be wrong of course, but I had heard of this plan before.

Macca.

Well remembered Macca. Here's the thread:
Steve in Kakadu Online Camping Query

Seems Steve's query may have been more than happenstance.

Well done, Bazooka...I tried and failed to find that old thread!

A more general internet search likewise failed to substantiate the OP claims. But we'll see what response you get.

The "Steve in Kakadu" thread was about Kakadu (Federal), not about NT (Territory) parks.
Cheers,
Peter
OKA196 motorhome.

Correct - it was about Kakadu. I don't know if they took the feedback onboard but at least they asked.
If the bureaucrats who run NT Parks want your opinion they will give it to you.

I know that the advice they provided to Government regarding the experiences of other states who had implemented on line booking systems was that the experiences were overwhelmingly positive and popular with the users of parks in those jurisdictions.

Probably true for some who regularly visit places that are heavily used and who know the place they want to camp. They have probably camped there before and have the comfort of knowing they can reserve the spot for the next trip. Not so for those who like to explore and value the bush journey.

The experiences elsewhere (including my own) are far from overwhelmingly positive. The advice to
the NT Government was selective and filtered to support a pre determined outcome.

NSW did this at the start of covid......for all NP sites, even the free ones.
And I don't think they will relax it after covid.
For me, NP will now be a last resort as I hate booking anything in advance.

You won't find anything online at this stage apart from leaked information. The NT Government is not letting anything out.
When it is announced it will be bundled into a broader Post Covid recovery plan (all fiction as they were working on it before anyone ever heard of Covid 19) that has significant revenue benefits to government because of the introduction of a range of quite steep user pays arrangements. The cost of doing anything in an NT Park will rise. Day use which was previously free will be subject to charges.
One of the sweeteners will be announcement of the opening up of new camping areas in Litchfield Park. This too, preceded Covid 19. The 'new' areas are old camping areas that the Govt closed years ago. Most of the work to re-open them was undertaken by four wheel drive clubs.

I encourage you to raise this issue prior to the announcement, because by then it will be too late. Take it up with NT Parks if you like but also send your views to the Minister. She is relatively new in the portfolio and wasn't part of the original planning for these changes. Contact details are included in one of my posts above.

Thanks 'SW2'. I had already written to the NT Parks dept, & have subsequently sent the following to the Minister as suggested. I too encourage everyone else to follow suit. The possibility of effectively losing access to OUR National Parks is not acceptable.

Dear Minister Uibo,

I wish to draw your attention to the following post, about NT government intentions with regard to National Parks on the ExplorOz website. I encourage you to read all the posts in the thread.

https://www.exploroz.com/forum/140829/nt-set-to-introduce-mandatory-online-booking-for-campsites

I sincerely hope that the information is incorrect.

This sort of mandatory booking system may suit short term holiday makers, but it is completely impractical for the many longer term travellers such as my wife & I.

Any requirement to make date specific bookings totally fails to recognise the reality of travel where many things can occur to make sticking to a booked date impossible (& unwanted). The booking system in Queensland Parks has demonstrated this.

Many of us are retired & living on a modest fixed budget. Increases in Access & Camping fees will also deny us the opportunity to have fair access to our National Parks which must remain a valued public asset for all, not a means of revenue raising.

Like many we travel to explore & enjoy our country, viewing our National parks as the ‘Jewels in the crown’. What we find however is in Queensland we are largely bypassing these ‘Jewels’ due to the impracticality of needing a fixed itinerary, & find ourselves feeling resentful as a result. At the very least we believe that every National Park should provide ‘dual’ access to allow the many travellers for whom pre-booking is so impractical to visit the parks, as well as for those who can & wish to pre-book.

For decades we have shared our views with fellow travellers about how out of all the States we think the NT has done National Park camping the best, in terms of facilities, cost & accessibility and hope that this is not going to be changed by ‘bean counters’ who appear to have little or no understanding (or care) of the impact their narrow view will have upon many who’s right to National Park access is equal to those whom pre-booking might suit.

My wife & I would welcome a response from you confirming or clarifying /denying the plan’s referred to in the linked post.

Yours Sincerely

That's an excellent letter, Cuppa. I couldn't do better than that. May I plagiarise it? :-)

Regards

I think it's a great idea to write to the Minister as you did Cuppa. My email query was short and sweet but I did mention to her that the rumoured pre-booking system was fraught with problems for many travellers. I didn't expect an immediate response but the Minister's office acknowledged my query on Monday. The Dept responsible, understandably, hasn't responded at all (yet).

By all means Frank, although it would be worth personalising it a little if you can.

"although it would be worth personalising it a little if you can."

Of course.

Thanks, Cuppa.

"I think I prefer the QLD ranger’s note at Diamantina, “ just enjoy your stay and pay later, we understand the problems” or words to that effect."

If only bureaucracy was that sensible!

The Diamantina rangers are a very special couple who have lived in far western Qld for many years, they aren't interested in being camp site managers though, they have also worked in the Brisbane head office.

Diamantina wouldn't get "booked out" very often, there's lots of space there. Most rangers just don't want to know about the on line booking system, it's not why they became rangers.
I've been a victim of "squatters" camping on my pre booked site as well as Lakefield
Mark

"I think I prefer the QLD ranger’s note at Diamantina, “ just enjoy your stay and pay later, we understand the problems” or words to that effect".

This from the Bladensburg NP in September 2017. The rangers have more important things to do than to be the bean counter's police.

Yes Cuppa,

This was also the attitude of the rangers at Inskip Point several years ago when the pre paid permit was first introduced. We could not get anyone to answer when we rang, the rangers happened along and when I told them we could not get an answer on the phone, they replied with a similar response.

Macca.

I would happily pay for a fair priced NATIONAL National Parks pass which afforded me both access & camping in parks right across the country. Certainly a fixed price would see some get more for their money than others, but I reckon it would work reasonably well & be far cheaper to manage.

The only problem is that national parks are run by each state government all with different rules. It would be like herding cats managing that. There are only 7 parks managed by the federal government.

Yes mate, it's how things work in the NT. A public service that thinks it has some God given right to undertake its business in secret and an elected government that condones it. That's not a political statement as it doesn't change when a different party gets elected.
Since this subject appeared on this forum and a few community minded people sought clarification from government, the system has gone into a spin. What are they worried about? Your opinion? No - what has their attention is finding the source of the leek.
The lid has really tightened on this.

You have to wonder about the mindset. This is ultimately about where someone rolls out their swag in the middle of nowhere, not a matter of national security. Why not be open and honest? Why not seek public views on the subject before locking in? All they have achieved is to make themselves look like sleazebags.

This was going to be announced early to mid 2021. They wanted to get the booking system in place before they let the public know about it. I wouldn't be surprised to see the announcement brought forward now it is out of the bag.

I just spoke with a ranger from NT Parks. He said he has heard rumours but that's about it and the initiative is actually coming from Tourism NT, not the minister. He thinks that if it did happen, it would probably only be Litchfield at this point.

Your source is not reliable or is trying to throw you off the trail. Some rangers know more than others. It came from the head of NT Parks. Not for the first time. Previous attempts have been rejected by government. It will apply to all parks, not just Litchfield.

Somewhere2, I am beginning to think you are a troll.

My source as you crudely put it is a colleague of 30 years, and has no reason to throw me off. He had no idea why I was ringing and I simply asked him if he had heard the rumour.

Secondly I know the person in Tourism NT that is supposedly toying with the idea, I have known him for nearly 30 years as well.

Nothing is set in concrete, other than the agenda you have to stir the pot., so far you have given no evidence at all to prove your story.

Put your evidence out there or move on.

A single person in Tourism NT is toying with the idea without consulting users (ie tourists) or rangers or administrators/managers? Seems a VERY odd way to conduct business Steve . My questions are what problem(s) is he trying to solve, will his second-hand idea create more problems (mentioned previously on this forum) than it solves, and what is the cost/benefit ratio?

I guess what I was trying to say was. The NT parks ranger was saying that the rumour was, that it was someone from Tourism NT's thought bubble. That's why I said nothing is set in concrete, because it seemed to me like it was someone's thought bubble and the OP has given no evidence to suggest otherwise.

I just happen to know the person that the ranger was talking about.

Call me a skeptic Steve but like many things in bureaucracies it seems to me to be a solution looking for a problem. Admittedly I don't know why fc-fs camping is suddenly a problem. There must be a reason. Presumably some people aren't paying fees or would like to be certain about obtaining a site so would embrace a pre-booking system? If the tourism guy is happy to sit on a help desk for 6 months to sort out problems with bookings, disputes over sites, payment refunds, lack of access to (or knowledge of) online facilities etc then I'd be more supportive.

Btw, thanks for your pre-emptive strike on this issue a while back.

I'm not silly enough to be provoked into giving myself away.
There is one way this could be put to bed - that is if the Minister or Head of NT Parks came out and denied that it was true. I don't mean say there is a 'thought bubble', but say it is not true that there is a specific submission before government to introduce mandatory on line booking for NT Parks campsites. That is not a difficult thing to do.
Several members of this forum have asked that question and cannot get an answer. That should tell you something.
I think I will bow out at this stage.

According to a story in the NTNews that I've just been reading there may be an announcement made in the coming days with possible fees to enter parks and increased camping fees that could apply from June.

Sorry, can't link to article as it's a subscriber only access.

Having walked the Larapinta Trail, I was amazed it didn't have fees, though difficult to police
The Jatbula Trail (Nitmuluk/ Katherine Gorge NP) has had fees since inception

NT Government seems determined to push ahead with campsite booking system despite the clear messages they have received.

https://tendersonline.nt.gov.au/Tender/DetailsFTO?id=2132

Future tender opportunity has been published on NT Gov website.

So Somewhere2, your original information proved to be accurate after all. Well done, and thanks.

Cheers
Jim

From NTNews

TREKKERS, who want to walk the Jatbula Trail, the Larapinta Trail and the Tabletop Track, will pay $25 per night, up to a maximum of $125 for five or more nights.

However, under the new fee structures to begin from July 1, Territorians can still access walking trails for free if they are undertaking single day walks or runs.

A Parks Pass fee will be introduced for national and international visitors. As promised Territorians will be exempt from a fee to enter NT Parks for the day.

However new camping fees in Category A will jump from $6.60 per adult ($15.40 family) to $10 per adult ($25 a family). on July 1. Next financial year it will be $12 per adult ($30 a family). In 2023 the adult fee is $15 ($38 per family).

A category A campsite has moderate camping facilities that may include: showers; toilets; rubbish bins; picnic tables; cooking facilities or services barbecues; tap water.

Category B campsite fees see adults go from $3.30 to $4 from July 1 The family fee increases from $7.70 to $10. Next financial year adults pay $6 and a family $15. From July 1, 2023 adults will pay $10 and a family $25. Category B campgrounds have basic to moderate camping facilities that may include: toilets; picnic tables; barbecues; tap water.

Parks and Rangers Minister Selena Uibo said the revenue from fees that will flow to Traditional Owners will provide the opportunity to create jobs on-country and develop Aboriginal tourism.

“It is imperative we are able to care for, maintain and improve these areas and a user-pays fee will help to generate the funds required to modernise our parks,” she said.

Ms Uibo said the online booking system to be introduced will streamline bookings for camping and walking and ensure greater certainty for campers and multi-day trail walkers.

“It will also provide improved safety for our visitors as we will have better information about where our visitors are on our estate,“ she said.

NT PARK FEES
MULTI- DAY WALKING FEE:

$25 per night, up to a max of $125 for 5+ nights.

CAMPING Category A

1 July 2021 Adult $10, child $5, Family $25;

1 July 2022 Adult $12, Child $6, Family $30;

1 July 2023 Adult $15, Child $8, Family $38.

CAMPING: Category B

1 July 2021 Adult $4, Child $2, Family $10;

1 July 2022 Adult $6, Child $3, Family $15;

1 July 2023 Adult $10, Child $5, Family $25.

"Parks and Rangers Minister Selena Uibo said the revenue from fees that will flow to Traditional Owners will provide the opportunity to create jobs on-country and develop Aboriginal tourism."

How will the government compensate the Traditional Owners when revenue drops due to p*ssed off people bypassing the parks?