BIRDSVILLE LANDING FEE RIP OFF

[Di_Vosh]

Dehav

Have any of you actually used the services provided in Birdsville?

Well, yes I have, thanks for asking. Both times I went we used the firewood that someone had collected, used the toilets, used the showers, used the briefing room on Sunday morning for weather (this was before Naips on iPhone ) and was grateful for the CAGRS service on arrival.

Do you think it's free to get the showers and portaloos driven in, the water and cleaning services for the above, and the extra personnel for the airport services on the weekend? This isn't the 60's or 70's where the govt pays for everything. We're in a user pays world whether we like it or not.

So the total for anyone flying into Birdsville to go to the races is in actual fact $45 per person.

Really?

Unless you're in an aircraft that you own, I'd have thought that the total for anyone flying to Birdsville would be well north of $1000.00! Finding it hard to believe that an extra $45 dollars is such an issue.

Baswell

If you can privately afford to drive a motor vehicle, then you can most certainly afford the $20 fee for using the rest stop with playground, toilets and barbecues at the edge of the country town you are passing through on your $300/day family holiday.

Oh wait, they don't charge $20 for that, they just put it up so they win some business from people passing through.

Big Assumption there. How sure are you that that rest stop wasn't part of a national or state project? (or built in the 60's or 70's as mentioned above) But even if it was a local project, the costs would be borne by the local ratepayers. Are you seriously suggesting that the Diamantina local council give the Birdsville residents (all 100 of them) an annual surcharge to cover the races?

DIVOSH!

[Rich-Fine-Green]

DHP: As much as I sympathise, it's a common practice across Australia these days.

Australia has become a VERY expensive country the last few years.

Until Gillard imposes a breathing tax, we still have some control over how we spend our money. You can choose not to go to the Races again in the future.

Your comment about Australian Tourism is on the right track. Think of it this way; In a competitive environment - the communities that do not charge you $25 per head may get your business in the future over Birdsville.

Next September, Fly to Hervey Bay instead. Go Whale watching. There is no per-head charge at the airport. However, there is a marine park levy added by the tour operators....

[multime]

Agreed, Australia is a very $$$ country.
ASIC CARDS just went up 25%.
Ontop of everything else. Bring on the revolution, or at very least an election.

[RadioSaigon]

Originally Posted by Rich-Fine-Green

Until Gillard imposes a breathing tax...

Never heard of Death Duties huh? It's the only thing you don't get to pay for until after you're finished with it...

[baswell]

Big Assumption there. How sure are you that that rest stop wasn't part of a national or state project? (or built in the 60's or 70's as mentioned above)

You mean like the airfield they inherited?

But even if it was a local project, the costs would be borne by the local ratepayers.

I doubt 100 local rate payers could afford much of anything. These towns are funded by state and federal grants and there is no reason those could not be extend to critical transport infrastructure required to make civilised life possible.

How much of the stimulus money went on worthwhile aviation projects in stead of $1M school pergolas actually worth about $100K?

Are you seriously suggesting that the Diamantina local council give the Birdsville residents (all 100 of them) an annual surcharge to cover the races?

They can charge all the entry to the races they like. And charge the same exorbitant prices for food, drink and accommodation as charges for events in cities. I just don't see a need to increase the landing fee for the event, even to those not going to the races, which it sounds like the original poster was doing.

It would be like increasing road tolls on days the footie is on! (Don't get me started on the subject of road tolls...)