THERE are renewed calls for Mildura to target the burgeoning, billion-dollar RV market to help kick-start Sunraysia’s COVID-bruised economy.
Domestic tourism is set to boom over the next 18 months as international travel restrictions force Australians to look for more domestic options.
Two candidates at the coming council election say “the time is now” for Mildura Rural City Council to update its overnight-stay rules to allow travellers to stay at low-cost sites, other than caravan parks, that specifically cater for RVs.
“It beggars belief that we haven’t tapped into this huge market yet,” outgoing councillor for economic development and tourism Mark Eckel said this week.
“I put up a Notice of Motion on this issue a few months ago and it was supported by council. But, because it is taking so long to get anything done on this, it will go back before the new council after next month’s local government election.
“The economic benefits from the RV industry – and us being seen as a RV-friendly destination – are going to be worth millions of dollars to our municipality.”
The Australian caravanning and camping industry is worth an estimated $23.6 billion each year. The Caravan and Motorhome Club of Australia claims the economic benefit by individual self-contained RVs to the community is about $100 a day.
Cr Eckel said the leaders of the Mildura municipality, which has towns, parks, the Murray River and touring routes into NSW and South Australia, “must be more innovative to capitalise on every opportunity”.
“There is plenty of community support for it, and I’d like to see the new council support it too after next month’s local government election,” Cr Eckel said. “Mildura Regional Development has done a report on it, and it recognises the opportunity for Mildura to attract more travellers in their caravans, motor homes and camper trailers.”
Mildura Clay Target Gun Club is already aiming to tap into the RV market, and Red Cliffs Golf Club is proposing to have a 20-site location catering specifically for RVs.
Greens candidate Katie Clements has climbed aboard the RV push for Mildura.
“We do need to make this a priority. The opportunity is going to be coming up very quickly for us, once the borders are reopened,” said the Red Cliffs Secondary College teacher, who once worked as a hostess cook on commercial bus trips around Australia.
“Whether it’s grey nomads, people hiring RVs for a getaway, or young families taking their kids around Australia for a different life experience, these are the people we need to be trying to bring to our region.
“Because of the restrictions on overseas travel, there will be more domestic tourism, and we need to tell people why Mildura is a ‘must-see’ destination. Improving our facilities for RV travellers is a big part of this.”
