Recreation and Tourism

Crown Land Caravan and Camping Parks

CLCCP Home | CLCCP Project | Reference Group Report | CLCCP Grants | Moving Towards Sustainability

A Crown land reserve is public land that has been set aside for the enjoyment and benefit of the people of Victoria. Crown land reserves support a whole range of amenities and uses including caravan and camping parks. There are nearly 200 caravan and camping parks on Crown land across the state which are a great asset for all Victorians. The types and purposes of these parks varies, from small seasonal camping grounds with limited facilities through to large caravan parks that provide on-site accommodation and more extensive facilities. CLCCPs are often managed on behalf of the Government by Local Government or Committees of Management. Parks Victoria also manage some caravan and camping parks on Crown land. These parks are recognised as providing the community with low cost recreational opportunities, and many parks also raise crucial revenue for the management of the surrounding reserve - particularly in the case of coastal foreshores. Many Crown land parks are situated close to some of Victoria's greatest natural attractions, making them key contributors to the regional tourism economy.

While CLCCPs provide many benefits to the community there are also many challenges faced by managers, including:

an increasing demand for sites as the Victorian population grows, particularly along the coast and during peak holiday seasons; visitors' increasing expectations about the standard of park facilities; the close proximity of many parks to environmentally sensitive sites, thus the need to protect environmental values; the need to improve business and asset management to deliver long-term economic, social and environmental benefits.

In response to these challenges, in 2004 the Minister for the Environment, the Hon John Thwaites MP, established the Caucus Reference Group on Caravan and Camping parks on Coastal Crown land in response to community concerns about access to coastal caravan and camping sites.

As a result, the Crown Land Caravan and Camping Parks Project and grants program have been established.