Time to Roam Magazine Issue 12 - December/January 2015 | Page 8

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upfront industry news

2014 A TOP YEAR
FOR LOCAL RV
BUILDERS
Australian RV production statistics
released by the Caravan Industry
Association of Australia (CIAA) show
2014 has been a year of solid growth,
with new vehicle registrations up five
per cent over the previous year.

Caravan owners
upset over roadside
rest stops ban
BY MEGAN NORTON

Caravan and motorhome owners have been angered
by a crackdown on long stay parking at roadside
rest areas, now being designated for trucks only.
NSW Roads and Maritime Services
(RMS) has been erecting signs at rest
areas saying they are not to be used as
camping grounds or caravan parks.
The Caravan and Motorhome Club of
Australia (CMCA) says the signs, including
threats of fines, have resulted in members
being afraid to use rest stops altogether.
CMCA CEO Richard Barwick said it was
a significant road safety issue as driver
fatigue was a problem for all road users.
“RMS proceeded with this course of
action without consulting stakeholders
representing travellers, including
the CMCA,” Mr Barwick said.
Australian Trucking Association (ATA) NSW

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manager Jodie Broadbent said problems
arose when the parking bays were being used
as camping sites and not for short stops.
“These are not pretend caravan parks
so people should not be putting up their
awnings and having their cups of tea.
“These are dedicated rest areas for
truckies and we need to be making
sure there are plenty of those,” she
told Australian Transport News.
However ATA CEO Stuart St Clair said
he believed most caravan and RV owners
were using rest stops appropriately.
“It really comes down to common sense,
awareness and courtesy,” he said.
His advice for caravan and RV owners using
rest stops was to park towards the exit so

There were 15,812 new RV registrations
in 2014 (up to September 30), compared
to 15,042 in 2013 and 15,587 for the
same period in 2012. The CIAA says
RV registrations have increased by 21.6
per cent since 2008. Stuart Lamont,
CEO of CIAA said the figures are “a
beacon of hope” to auto-manufacturing
in Australia. “In the context of failed car
manufacturing, it’s is a sign that these
jobs and skills won’t become extinct on
our shores,” Mr Lamont said. Complete
figures for the full 2014 calendar year )ݥ