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The South Eastern Times : April 8th 2014
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6 - The South Eastern Times, Tuesday, April 8, 2014 www.thesoutheasterntimes.com.au THE Independent who helped form a Labor Government in the election by supporting the party, will visit Millicent today. Of great interest to the Limestone Coast, Geoff Brock's controversial move has landed him the role of Minister for Regional Development. He accepted with the message that his heart was "dedicated to regional South Australia". Mr Brock will visit industries around the district today and will no doubt leave with a list of priorities. It is safe to say that for communities across the region, employment would top the list. Too many people have lost their jobs in and around Millicent in the past few years and there is no indication that new opportunities are lurking. Mr Brock needs to hear today that too many skilled people have left the region to seek opportunities elsewhere and that our young people are also disillusioned and seeking a future elsewhere. We do not want to hear promises from Mr Brock today. It is time we hear solutions. Busy month APRIL is one of the busiest months of the year in Millicent. The Geltwood Craft Festival was brought to a close with a moving dusk tribute by the Millicent Choral Society at the Geltwood anchor at Southend on Sunday. Looking ahead to this weekend, the opening of the Rotary Photographic Art Show and the official ceremony to mark $840,000 worth of improvements to McLaughlin Park are on the agenda. Over the next few weeks, Anzac Day commemoration services, Easter celebrations and the school holidays are ahead. 6 OPINION LUCY PEARCE Millicent Ithinkitisagood thing as it brings people into the area. KATH KENT Millicent Having the free camps is a good help for people who travel long distances. LEN TEAGLE Millicent No change is needed as the motorhomes should be staying at the caravan parks. STREET SWEEPER LETTER TO THE EDITOR What is your opinion on Wattle Range Council's proposal to allow free camping for motor homes at five designated areas? EDITORIAL WE are airing our opinions about the free camping proposal of Wattle Range Council for Millicent and surrounds. This proposal is the biggest threat to our industry ever and will impact substantially on not only all caravan parks, but on all businesses that provide services to caravan parks and to groups and clubs that caravan parks in turn provide sponsorship and donations to. Why would you give a service away for free when for years and years, this service has been happily growing and paid for? Why should the travelling grey nomads of this country who live permanently "on the road" get free rates and taxes and free rubbish removal and, in some cases, free power and water? Once you set up legal free camps, you will also encourage all the tourists who normally would have paid and stayed in a caravan park to also free camp. A good percentage of travellers to our caravan parks, after their rigs have been set up and they have had a chance to wander around the park, are back at our doors ready to pay for a few extra nights. In a nutshell, the more tourists we can get in here to our parks, the more money we will spend in our towns in the way of building more cabins, camp kitchens, bunk houses etcetera and these tourists will stay another day too. When all the councils follow suit because they think they will miss out, when it's all said and done and every town has free camps, what then? Who wins? Not the people of Millicent, Beachport, Southend or Penola, not the caravan parks and not the Wattle Range Council either. Money is tight for everyone, and if something is for free, even having the best, cleanest, friendliest, cheapest will not be good enough to compete with free. What service can? Our businesses are regularly contacted by community groups and sporting clubs to be sponsors. We would love to say "yes" straight off without hesitation, but unfortunately, with our industry under a cloud at present, we are hesitant with our decisions about such sponsorships. The most important of all issues is that a good percentage of tourists that are free camping in towns are tourists that are in fact not self-contained at all.They do not have a toilet or a shower on board. This is a health issue in itself and it is likely such persons will attempt to "steal" the use of our facilities. With all the doom and gloom about the major manufacturing industries in Australia, the tourism industry is one industry that is alive and kicking but all that could easily change very quickly. We are not opposed to free camping, but it must be more than 20km from a town. Allan and Gloria Withers, Millicent Hillview Caravan Park Mark and Desi Dommenz, Millicent Lakeside Caravan Park Claire and Henk Bruins, Penola Caravan Park Stan and Kerry Jackson, Southend on Sea Tourist Park John and Wendy Atkinson, Beachport Caravan Park Holiday park operators speak out over free camping BW465521 Have your say. Please write to: Preference will be given to letters less than 200 words. Longer letters will be subject to editor's discretion. All letters must carry author's full name and address. Include a daytime telephone number for verification. The South Eastern Times values your opinion. If you have a view or wish to comment on any community issue we would like to hear from you. The Editor 42 Davenport Street Millicent SA 5280 Fax 8733 4341 Email: editor@setimes.com.au The South Eastern Times reserves the right to edit letters for legal purposes and space restrictions. 598996 Audited by the Australian Bureau of Circulation Published by The Border Watch Pty Ltd ABN: 78 007 828 819 Registered office: 42 Davenport Street, Millicent SA 5280 Postal address: PO Box 22, Millicent SA 5280 Telephone: (08) 8733 3755 Fax: (08) 8733 4341 Business Hours: 8.30am - 5.00pm, Monday - Friday Proud Member of the ABN: 65 007 614851 Published: Tuesday & Thursday Deadlines: Displays: 10am 2 days prior to publication Classifieds: 11am day prior to publication Copy: 5pm 2 days prior to publication General Manager: Robin Reid Email: robin.reid@tbw.com.au Advertising: Katherine Taylor Email: ads@setimes.com.au Advertising Manager: Dennis Jackson Phone: 8724 1535, Email: dennis@tbw.com.au Editor: Jason Wallace Email: editor@setimes.com.au Administration: Caroline Hammat Email: admin@setimes.com.au Responsibility for editorial comment is taken by Jason Wallace, 81 Commercial Street East Mount Gambier The SE Times proudly uses 100% recycled paper Send your news tips and contributions to: journo1@setimes.com.au
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