Van parks are assets
I have travelled eastern and central Australia extensively in camper vans over the past decade, and meeting backpackers and travellers from overseas and other states is a major source of the interest I gain from my travels.
When visiting capital cities like Brisbane, Melbourne and Darwin we stay in limited-stay van parks 30 to 40 kilometres from the CBD, and either drive or catch public transport.
We pay our tariff, we shop in local supermarkets, we buy a meal at the local club and we buy our fuel from the local service station.
After four or five days of showering in the ablution block, cooking and socialising in the camp kitchen and leaving our garbage in the garbage bin we are off on the rest of our journey and our next van park.
It is true that backpackers and "vanners" can and have become a nuisance in areas where there are no facilities for them.
But in locations where they have essential facilities and a regulated limit on their stay period they are not a problem; indeed, they are an asset bringing new tourism and trade to an area.
The shire already has a camp ground (the national park's camp ground at Bonnie Vale) and from the times that I have stayed there I know that it brings trade to Bundeena and Maianbar.
Ask the businesses in these areas if they think their camp ground is a bad idea, or if it encourages people to camp in their streets.
Unfortunately it is not close enough to Sydney to serve as a base for "vanners" wanting to stay a week or two to see more of Sydney's attractions. For this, a facility closer to the road and public transport networks is required.
So I regard the establishment of a camper van (caravan) park is one of the most positive proposals that I have heard come from the current council, and I hope that they get the support of the industry and investors to establish a first-class, limited-stay facility.
Peter, Caringbah