Cooktown now RV Friendly

[John M]

Currently parked at the new Cooktown camp area, (S 15deg 28' 7", E 145 deg 14' 52") 48hr limit $5.00 a night, Dump point and potable water available, parking a bit restricted for the bigger rigs. Designated self contained vehicles only (they even ask it you are a CMCA membership number when you register) some Caravans here with containers under the grey water outlet though that is specifically noted as not eligible on the sheet, as well as no generators.
All in All a good site that backs on to the main street, in the central business area such as it is.
Council ask that we fill out a survey of approximate spending's and forward plans, ie whether we are going to make use of a caravan park after the 48hr limit.

[BernieQ2]

Hi John we were there early last month, wasnt asked for CMCA member number.
Was camped beside another motor home which at the time I thought had a grey water tank, but no only had a container (bucket) inside a side bin. Same thing I suppose, a grey water tank, its all in the interperation.
The 'tank' was emptied on both mornings in the dump point.
Bernie.

[Dot]

Nice to hear from you again John, what was your answer to the staying in the caravan park Q? Hi to Shirley and hug to Beau.

[John M]

Nice to hear from you again John, what was your answer to the staying in the caravan park Q? Hi to Shirley and hug to Beau.

Hi Dot, filled it out as following,
"Not going to happen, have spent all my money in the town, ($231 on diesel, $50 on petrol, $255 on shopping and $130 in town) nothing left for Caravan parks"

Hi Bernie,
I agree with the container scenario, what seems to be the cut off here is the container must have a close able lid, ie no open buckets. It is an interesting observation to see which caravan manufacturer will first introduce a grey water tank.

[TheBushRat]

G'day,

I'm pretty amazed that the CMCA has already designated Cooktown (a previously very unfriendly RV place) as RV friendly.

The arrangements mentioned in here are on a "trial" basis, so wouldn't it be best to hold off on kudos etc by the CMCA until the results of the "trial" are to hand and we understand where the town is heading?

Councils and councilors change often and their ideas change with them. Be careful with over-the-top praise until...

[generdawg]

The arrangements mentioned in here are on a "trial" basis,...

Absolutely! They MUST earn our respect by going the EXTRA kilometre just like they earned their reputation.

dawg (hey Rocky, watch me pull a rabbit out of the hat. Aw Bullwinkle that trick never works. )

[John M]

G'day,

I'm pretty amazed that the CMCA has already designated Cooktown (a previously very unfriendly RV place) as RV friendly.

The arrangements mentioned in here are on a "trial" basis, so wouldn't it be best to hold off on kudos etc by the CMCA until the results of the "trial" are to hand and we understand where the town is heading?

Councils and councilors change often and their ideas change with them. Be careful with over-the-top praise until...

I hear what you say, and acknowledge your point, the council has spent a lot of money on signage however, while we were there all the Caravan Parks were full! and apparently there was a negative article in the local newspaper (I did not see it) however, on Wednesday evening we had a visit from a person claiming to represent the local chamber of commerce, who welcomed us to Cooktown, and advised us to disregard the newspaper article "as the caravan parks had never had it so good". and the article was obviously written by someone who hasn't seen the figures.

[TheBushRat]

G'day,

I arrived at Cooktown today.

I last visited the town in 2008 and upon discovering that the town was very RV unfriendly, I did not visit again until today after hearing that Cooktown is now RV friendly.

I am appalled that the CMCA issued Cooktown with RV Friendly Town status 2 months prior to the start-up of the Adelaide Street rest area which Council acknowledge is on a trial basis. How did this happen? Who are the clots within our club who do this stuff?

Surely, the proper course would be to hold off the RV Friendly Town status for a period during which the trial can be assessed properly by travellers.

The Cooktown Council issues a "Conditions of Use" printout when the $5 per night payment has been made. The printout states 14 "conditions" of the use of the Adelaide Street rest area.

Item 11; Purchase petrol, food, or supplies in Cooktown as a form of thank-you when feasible.

Item 12; Always leave an area cleaner than you found it.

What the hell,,,???

Nice to think that these things MAY occur - to state them as "conditions" is ludicrous in the extreme.

This Council must be populated by drongos - this whole thing has happened half-cocked. There is no signage in town pointing to the facility. The signage at the facility is hopelessly inadequate. The facility itself is divided by a dusty track within a metre each side of parked rigs which is regularly used at speed, by locals.

The "Conditions of use" item 2; Permits must be obtained from the Visitor Information Centre prior to setting up and must be displayed in your vehicle and be clearly visible at all times.

Well you might say that's a nice piece of relavent information - WRONG! Firstly, it's the Cooktown Shire Office that you need to visit for the permit and secondly, you only receive the "Conditions of use" AFTER you've paid for the permit. Half cocked??? Yep.

And to think that our CMCA back this sham is unbelievable - on reflection, not unbelievable at all. Activities within our club in recent years suggest that this type of crap is par for the course.

Cooktown is a great destination, but remains RV unfriendly. They make the facility available to only self contained vehicles. The council henchperson who approached me prior to my obtaining a permit stated as much. I questioned the need for a shower on board for someone staying two days. "...whether I take a shower in that period is no concern of yours..." I said. She replied that it was in the rules. Good grief, our club's founding fathers would be devastated.

Seems to me that it's all about greed and not the traveller's well being. Will not return again until I hear that vast improvement has occurred. My continued membership of the CMCA is in serious doubt.

[Dot]

That's Interesting Eddie. BTW did you have that shower?

[generdawg]

Item 11; Purchase petrol, food, or supplies in Cooktown as a form of thank-you when feasible.

When it waddles like a commercial exercise, quacks as a commercial exercise then .... a rose by any name...

dawg (who spends big where it's deserved )