The proposal to slap a ten dollar entry fee on Killalea State Park sounds like " double dipping " to many people. We already pay taxes to provide recreational areas for all - and yet what has been a free entry for years is now going to cost us money.
It can be argued that this is simply " user pay " being applied, and that other state parks attract an entry fee of between $ 7 and $ 10, but the plan to include Killalea raises the whole question of entry fees for public land.
This has inched forward to include city parks when several councils in areas surrounding Sydney harbour decided to demand a fee from people who wished to enter those parks to watch the New Year fireworks.
Obviously, this would quickly extend to other events - such as the start of the Sydney/Hobart yacht race.
It raises the principle of just what facilities should governments and councils freely provide for all the citizens.
In the case of Killalea - this is a charge to visit a beach ! It is called a " State Park " but in reality it is a very nice beach with spectacular surfing waves. Why don't we drop that " State Park " name and call it what it is - simply a beach - and drop that entry charge ?
It is coming a long way from the practice of some charities to hold fund raising events in parks and ask the public for a " gold coin " entry - which is a request and not a demand.
There is no " please " when entry consists of a boom gate manned by a uniformed guard - and that is what seems to be planned for Killalea.
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