<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The amount of free </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/ghost-camping-what-is-is-how-campsite-hoarding-works-why-free-spots-sit-empty-everything-to-know-explained/49b3aa2c-e410-4f83-b998-42365839b6a0" rel="" target="_blank" title="campsites"><span>campsites</span></a><span> around Australia is shrinking after a local council introduced new fees at a range of popular spots.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/tasmania" rel="" target="_blank" title="Tasmania's"><span>Tasmania's</span></a><span> Central Coast Council will ask campers to fork out a $15 nightly fee from the end of February 2026 at several council-managed freedom </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/camping" rel="" target="_blank" title="camping"><span>camping</span></a><span> sites.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The impacted sites are Forth Recreation Ground, Midway Point in Sulphur Creek and Bannons Park in Gunns Plains in the state's north-west.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/bobbi-lockyer-artist-commissioned-painting-missing-in-transit/a754d777-0568-4d17-94cb-8ac9dcf527a6" rel="" target="_blank" title="Bobbi is pleading with Australia Post for help after $4000 loss"><strong><span>Bobbi is pleading with Australia Post for help after $4000 loss</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/victoria-fires-heatwave-record-temperatures/81dd3eb3-d46b-488d-a875-9e9cd9674b7f" target="_blank" title=""><strong><span>Emergency warnings in parts of Victoria as fires rage amid record heat</span></strong></a><strong><span></span></strong></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>A new permit system will also be enforced, including a maximum stay of three nights per site for self-contained vehicles such as campervans or RVs and a ban on fires and tents.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"The permit system is being introduced to help council better manage camping and RV visitation across the Central Coast," the council's Director of Corporate Services Samantha Searle told nine.com.au.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/fees-now-being-charges-at-free-campsites-tasmania/c1f2e21b-f76d-4b71-a8cc-5700f94ed3d4" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"The modest fee will be reinvested directly into maintaining and improving facilities, protecting the natural environment, and ensuring fair and equitable access to camping areas.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"It also aligns with council's adopted RV and Camping Strategy and broader planning to enhance visitor experience, support tourism growth and deliver future infrastructure upgrades that will benefit both visitors and the local community."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>LIVE UPDATES:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/extreme-weather-live-updates-heatwave-fires-heavy-rain-cyclone-warnings/83b0dcd3-39df-4a51-a3ca-db54ef910df3" target="_blank" title="Extreme weather grips Australia"><strong><span>Extreme weather grips Australia</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>It follows a proposal by the NSW national parks service to standardise camping fees across the board following a rise in "ghost camping".</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>A consultation paper released last year, of which the submissions are yet to be released, outlined a "significant" change to the NSW Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS), the first since 2017.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The tiered system would see fees increased, particularly during the busy season.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>For most campers, fees would increase in high season and be cheaper in low season, the NPWS said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"For example, a family of four currently pays $68/night in a beachfront campground (tier 6), but with the proposed tiered system they would pay $89/night in high season or $54/night in low season," the consultation paper stated.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The fees would be introduced to encourage cancellations and discourage ghost camping or no-shows, where travellers book but don't ever arrive to claim their spot.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The NPWS said it had considered alternative approaches, including a "first-come, first-served" model, 100 per cent refunds for cancellations or fines for no-shows, but found it "difficult" to enforce.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE: </span></strong><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/nsw-bonnet-up-scam-police-men-charged/8b4beeb0-1844-4426-b07e-ade43777c67d"><strong><span>Two charged, two more wanted after 'bonnet up' scam targeting elderly women</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Around 23,000 people responded to the submission.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The NPWS is now in the process of reviewing the feedback.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Ghost camping is a nationwide issue that has prompted government responses in multiple states.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/ghost-camping-victoria-local-businesses-suffer-during-school-holidays/286b0e7a-c92b-4df4-bf6c-8441aab73220" rel="" target="_blank" title="The practice surged after Victoria"><span>The practice surged after Victoria</span></a><span> introduced free camping in every state forest and national park across the state in December 1, 2024.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The move wiped out $7.3 million in annual booking fees for campers but it's come at another high cost – campsites sitting empty.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/how-to-follow-9news-digital/29855bb1-ad3d-4c38-bc25-3cb52af1216f" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>DOWNLOAD THE 9NEWS APP</span></em></strong></a><strong><em><span>: Stay across all the latest in breaking news, sport, politics and the weather via our news app and get notifications sent straight to your smartphone. 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