THE PARKIE AUT25 - Flipbook - Page 16
Advocacy wins for
BUSHFIRE AFFECTED GRAMPIANS PARKS
Keen to check on the welfare of members in The Grampians, the association asked
former CEO Elizabeth White to visit the region in February to better understand member
experiences and concerns after the extensive summer fire event.
“We’ve already seen one positive
outcome from Elizbeth’s visit after
she learned that Grampians Paradise
Camping and Caravan Parkland was
going to have to pay to re-fill dams used
in the firefighting effort,” association
CEO Scott Parker said.
“Water supplies in the region were
understandably commandeered for
fire-fighting purposes, but replacement
of these vital supplies must be a
government priority – not something
individuals have to fight for.
“Park owner Aidan Banfield told
Elizabeth the local water board was
seeking payment to top up his wetlands,
which as fauna habitat, did not fall into
an automatic top up category,” he said.
“We were then able to work with the
Opposition, who raised it in Parliament.
As a result, Aidan and the association met with DECCA
to resolve this issue. He will now have his wetlands
reinstated in time for Easter.”
Elizabeth said the purpose of her two-day visit was to
relay the association’s concern for its members, ‘lend
a listening ear’ and determine avenues of possible
assistance or business support that might be offered
by the association or available through government
agencies.
Elizabeth visited five of the six member parks in the area:
• Breeze Holiday Parks – Grampians
• NRMA Halls Gap Holiday Park
• Halls Gap Lakeside Tourist Park
• Grampians Paradise Camping and Caravan Parkland
• Lake Fyans Holiday Park
“Park owners expressed a deep gratitude to both the
salaried and volunteer firefighters who had protected
their parks and eventually extinguished the fires,”
Elizabeth said.
However, many expressed concern about changing
evacuation orders which made it difficult to advise the
safest option for both guests already in the parks and
those on their way.
While the parks escaped damage, loss of income was
substantial because of the compulsory evacuation of
guests and subsequent extended park closures.
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The Banfield family preparing to protect Grampians
Paradise from the Grampians fire on Christmas Day.
“The revenue from the six-seven weeks of the Christmas
and subsequent holiday period can generate more
than 50% of annual income for some parks in Victoria,
so a 20%-50% loss of income caused by the bushfires is
deeply concerning,” Elizabeth said.
“All parks expressed concern they’d be unable to meet
the escalating cost of reinsuring their parks, or that they
would not be able to gain insurance in future years due
to the enhanced fire risk perceived by underwriters,” she
added.
Elizabeth’s visit was the first step in an ongoing
commitment to our member parks in the region as the
fall-out from the bushfires continues.
In March, at the urging of the association, the leader of the
Nationals Danny O’Brien and Deputy Leader and local MP
Emma Kealy met with business owners, including three
of our member parks, to discuss ongoing challenges and
explore pathways to full recovery.
This was a crucial opportunity for our members to
provide direct feedback on the financial, operational and
regulatory challenges they are seeking to overcome.
“This association has a proud and recent history of
supporting members during and after natural disasters
that significantly impact their businesses. We will
continue to seek the best possible outcomes for our
Grampians members,” Scott said.
