At least one Katherine caravan park has stopped accepting self-quarantining arrivals because of non-compliance but also the mixed messages on what rules they are supposed to follow.
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Riverview Tourist Village manager Fiona Young says the park has stopped accepting self-isolating travelers amid shifting government directions.
The park reported difficulties with both inconsistencies between police and the NT Health Department directions, and non-compliance among the travelers themselves.
Incidents included park residents dobbing each other in to police due to shifting rules on social distancing.
One isolating arrival was also seen flouting directions which upset others who were.
Ms Young also said visitors from within the Territory were refusing to stay at the park when they found others there in quarantine.
"We had about eight people isolate themselves in their own caravans and another eight or so in our cabins," she said.
"We were on the phone to the Health Department almost every day and it just wasn't worth it.
"We had a staff member who was isolating get the cops called on her for walking her dog, which is perfectly within the rules as exercise and she was doing the right thing not stopping or anything.
"We ended up just continuing to enforce a four metre gap after they shifted the rules because nobody knew what was going on, people were pointing the finger so we just said no.
"There was one fellow who wouldn't stay in his area and kept coming to reception asking for reading materials and the like.
"We're over being policed and having to take on the responsibility of enforcing it all ourselves.
"And we've had people arrive then turn away and go again when they find out people are isolating here so it's just not worth it for us," Ms Young said.
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Ms Young said she had some apprehensions about the borders opening given the confusion and inconsistent messaging over the past few weeks.
"I am concerned because I know plenty have made a run for it out of Victoria, and it's up around Sydney now as well," she said.
"I'm just concerned that the border is run correctly, because it can't be left to us to ascertain who is and isn't a risk when they arrive here.
"They need to know who has been where so it's not left to us, we've had people with exemptions come stay and nobody has even given them a test," Ms Young said.
Boab Caravan Park manager Glen Amato said the system had worked fine for management, but the caravan tourists themselves had suffered for misdirection.
Meanwhile, Katherine Holiday Park management reported a drama-free experience with isolating caravans, although did admit the vast open spaces of that particular location made it easier.
Travelers at the Boab Caravan Park reported little engagement from authorities, and were only offered tests at the hospital on a voluntary basis.
Yet grey nomads Phil and Robyn Norman have been residing at Riverview Tourist Village over the same period, and said it had been "full-on".
"They came in and tested us with the full masks and get up, tested us right here at our caravan," Mr Norman said.
"We come here every year and we'll stay for four or five months so we don't mind isolating and we've enjoyed it.
"The police and health department folks have been down here every day poking in to make sure we're doing the right thing, but we'll be all done in two more days so that's good," he said.
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