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NOVEMBER 2022
     

'Growing and critical role' recognised

Shot in arm for caravan parks

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THE Caravan Industry Association of Australia has welcomed the Federal Budget's announcement of caravan park infrastructure upgrade funding.

"The announcement of targeted infrastructure investment for the nation's caravan parks will see a big shot in the arm for many park operators looking to build on the quality customer experiences already on offer across the country," it said.

The announcement had confirmed Labor's pre-election commitment made to the association to provide much needed infrastructure expenditure if elected in May 2022.

In the soon-to-be-announced criteria for the grant program, Australian caravan parks will be able to apply for funding to deliver shovel-ready projects.

"The heart of the program is to assist caravan parks to swiftly upgrade or create new infrastructure and visitor facilities to enhance visitor experience, including improvements to accessibility and environmental sustainability practices," the association said.

Chief executive Stuart Lamont, pictured, said the targeted federal infrastructure support package recognised the "growing and critical value" of caravanning to Australia's tourism and visitor economy.

"Caravanning has long been Australian domestic tourism's largest visitor and economic cohort, an almost $24 billion economic driver in tourism and local manufacturing activity," Mr Lamont said.

"This well-targeted funding will go directly into our world-leading caravan park product across the nation. We also believe it will extract private capital expenditure support up to three times over.

"For caravan parks to be incentivised to deliver more attractive visitor amenities and appealing product is just the ticket to supporting sustainable recovery and growth in Australian tourism."

Mr Lamont said the grants would develop new and appealing visitor products including cabins, recreation facilities and innovative features such as supporting accessible tourism.

"As the national peak body for caravanning, we strongly welcome this federal commitment and we look forward to the release of the grant program and the application process in the coming days," he added.

● Caravanning News reader David Johnson from Victoria was quick to react to the news, commenting: "I just hope that as taxpayers are effectively funding an element of the upgrade works, that park owners recognise the funded element and ensure any resultant price rises reflect this."

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