A former NSW National Parks ranger has joined growing opposition to the state government’s proposed major changes to campground fees, warning that increased prices could exclude many families and cause a “disconnection from nature.”
Louise Andersen, who recently left the Parks service, expressed concern that if popular camping sites become too costly, it will create an unfair system where some Australian families can no longer afford to enjoy the outdoors.
Although the public consultation period on the fee changes closed weeks ago, outdoor filmmaker Mike Atkinson has been leading a campaign against the plan. His petition to “keep camping affordable” has gathered over 10,200 signatures and calls on the NSW parliament to reconsider the price hikes.
Louise reached out to Mike to share that many former National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) rangers also oppose the increases. Initially wishing to stay anonymous, she has now spoken out publicly.
“Since the proposal was announced, I’ve spoken to several former NPWS colleagues, and the consensus is clear: there is no support for the fee increases,” she said.
Despite leaving the service, Louise continues to promote Australia’s natural beauty on social media. She stressed that higher fees risk undermining the core mission of protecting the environment and engaging visitors.
“If access becomes unaffordable for most, we risk alienating the very people we’re trying to engage,” she warned. Louise fears that steeper prices will harm visitor experiences and shift public attitudes negatively toward national parks.
The new pricing system would index fees to inflation, causing yearly rises. It would also introduce seasonal pricing, charging more during peak holiday times. Campsites would be categorized into tiers based on facilities, from free simple clearings (tier 1) to premium sites with hot showers and BBQs (tier 6).
Most campgrounds (tiers 2 to 5), accounting for 85% of sites, would cost between $22 and $65 per night during peak season. Top-tier sites could cost up to $89 per night.
While surcharges for extra campers in group bookings might be removed, popular spots, especially near Sydney, will become significantly more expensive at busy times.
Speaking on Mike’s podcast, Louise pictured a scenario where Sydney families might choose a foreign holiday over camping locally due to costs.
“You can imagine a young family from Sydney wanting to go on a week-long holiday during school holidays. They drive six hours to Coonabarabran… the fuel, food, and fees all add up. At that point, they might as well book a trip to Bali,” she said.
Mike Atkinson’s petition has caught the attention of Environment Minister Penny Sharpe, and he is pushing for it to be formally debated in parliament. Once an ePetition reaches 20,000 signatures, it must be discussed by MPs.
Nationals MP Scott Barrett supports the petition, emphasizing that national parks should remain accessible to everyone.
“They’re everyone’s assets, not just the top echelon,” Barrett told Yahoo News. “Everyone should be able to get into a national park, stay the night, light a fire, roll out a swag and enjoy some of the best country this state has to offer.”
Having recently spent six months traveling Australia with his family and camping in national parks, Barrett said the issue is personal.
“We should be encouraging people to get out into these areas, not making it out of reach,” he added.
NSW residents can sign the petition online until August 21.
The NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service said more than 200,000 campers and visitors were consulted during the proposal’s development.
“Further community feedback will help the NSW Government decide on next steps and whether the proposed changes are adopted and implemented,” the NPWS website states.
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