MOUNT Gambier City Council will apply to become an RV Friendly Town after recently approving a one-year trial of dedicated parking for motorhomes at the Mount Gambier Showgrounds.
Elected members endorsed a council application to secure RV Friendly Town status for Mount Gambier at last week’s council meeting, which could potentially open the district to increased recreational vehicle tourism through promotion on the nationally recognised network.
A council staff report highlighted the Campervan and Motorhome Club of Australia Limited (CMCA) believed the city had sufficient infrastructure to secure RV Friendly Town status.
It follows the Council Assessment Panel last month approving a maximum of 30 self-contained RVs, caravans and campers to use the showgrounds for overnight parking on a 12-month trial basis.
Mount Gambier resident Klaas Mastenbroek – a CMCA member – said he had been pushing council to get on board for close to 15 years.
“What it means for the city is that people will come in, they will see the signs and see there is an overnight stop and take advantage of it,” Mr Mastenbroek said.
“In the past people would just drive through and go to places like Tarpeena, Tantanoola or Port MacDonnell, which have free campsites and are RV friendly.”
Mr Mastenbroek revealed around 60,000 motorhomes were currently active across Australia and Mount Gambier’s economy stood to benefit if it received the accreditation.
“We are the second largest city in South Australia and we are the crossroads between Melbourne and Adelaide,” he said.
“A lot of travellers want to see the Great Ocean Road on their travels and they come through Mount Gambier and they need a place to have an overnight stay to stock up and have a meal.
“If they can have an overnight stop close to the city centre, they will go shopping in town, which will be great for the local economy and might even create more jobs.”
During discussion at last week’s meeting, councillor Max Bruins expressed his support for the motion, however raised concerns about it potentially taking away revenue from caravan parks across the city.
However, Mayor Lynette Martin believed it would attract a different demographic of people.
“There are 12 other RV Friendly Towns located in the Limestone Coast that people could choose to stay if they did not stay here,” Ms Martin said.
“On that basis I believe it does bring another genre of tourists to our city.”
Mr Mastenbroek echoed the mayor’s sentiments.
“The people that want to go to the caravan parks will still go to the caravan parks, but there are a lot of people who do not want to go to the caravan parks, so they will pass through,” he said.
Mount Gambier resident Geoff Wilson – who also likes to travel in his recreational vehicle – welcomed council’s decision last week.
“They would be surprised by how many people drive through because they have to pay to stay – a lot of these people are pensioners who work on a tight budget,” he said.
“We are ratepayers too and I have to commend the council chief executive who has brought so much wisdom, because it seems in the past we have had the foot on the brake pedal when it comes to tourism.”
