Warwick: angry words at RV-friendly forum

MOVES to turn Warwick in Queensland into an RV-friendly town resulted in a rowdy meeting to discuss the matter.

Angry words were exchanged at the forum organised by the local Chamber of Commerce, with president John Randall at one stage threatening to abandon the meeting.

About a hundred locals listened as Campervan and Motorhome Club of Australia director Karen Griffin outlined the benefits of becoming an RV-friendly town.

"It's designed to put dollars into the cash registers of local businesses," she said.

But at least one member of the forum doubted whether caravan parks would benefit. Ms Griffin explained that about half the CMCA's 58,000 members were not self-contained and relied on caravan parks.

Hart's Tourist Park owner Graham Hart, whose three-star 20-acre family park is located at the northern end of Warwick in Palmer Avenue, cast doubt on some of Ms Griffin's figures but she was not allowed to reply.

Mr Hart later claimed to the local Daily News that the RV-friendly tag was merely a marketing ploy by the CMCA, adding: "These people have got a very, very smart publicity and marketing machine. They're pushing their agenda for their own benefit."

Views from the forum will be discussed at the Chamber's meeting this month before being forwarded to Southern Downs Regional Council, which is still considering whether towns in the region should become RV-friendly.

The 'RV Friendly Town' scheme is an initiative of the CMCA which calls for towns to provide amenities and services for travellers, including overnight camping and dump point facilities, a drinking water supply, parking near the general shopping area and the erection of 'RV Friendly Town' signs.

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