RVs welcome to park here
COUNCIL GIVES ALL CLEAR TO TATURA RV SHORT-STAY SITE, LOOKING TO DEVELOP PARKS IN SMALL TOWNS
A model for short stay parks for recreational vehicles will be developed by Greater Shepparton City Council after a successful trial at Tatura.
Councillors voted to make the Tatura site permanent at the August meeting and to develop a policy that could see spaces created in other small towns for council short stay public parks for self-contained RVs to stay for up to 48 hours.
Cr Fern Summer said the trial had demonstrated that the short stay parks could operate successfully alongside commercial operations such as caravan parks.
While COVID-19 restrictions impacted a large proportion of the trial period, Cr Summer said it still demonstrated a need and there was a demonstrated economic benefit.
“Encouraging regional people to explore regional areas should be a priority,” she said.
Cr Sam Spinks spoke against the motion, but only to highlight some of the risks raised in the report such as incorrect disposal of grey water, litter and noise.
“It could also be argued it is a relatively large resource and monetary cost for very few users and we must take care not to compete directly with local businesses,” she said.
“I would like to caution that the continuation of the rest stop be treated not as a permanent fixture, but an extension of the trial.”
The operation of the Tatura site will be reviewed in three years.
Cr Geoff Dobson told the meeting that as a frequent user of similar sites across Australia he could speak with some authority.
“The grey nomads, which I might become one day, use these parks a lot and they take care of them because they understand it is put there for their benefit,” he said.
“My experience tells me people in the main do look after these sites.”
Cr Dobson said the benefits that f low to RV friendly towns were great and places like Dookie would be a perfect setting.
“I’d like to see this as an asset to our small towns, they all have something to offer for those people who want to stay overnight,” he said.
Cr Anthony Brophy said progress on RV friendly sites would please enthusiasts.
“I know a number of RV enthusiasts and they have been knocking on my door for some time saying council should be doing more,” he said.
Other small towns across the municipality including Mooroopna, Dookie, Murchison and Merrigum have expressed interest in setting up RV sites.
The RV strategy will be part of the development of the new Economic Development Tourism and Major Events Strategy.