For many grey nomads who are not on the road full-time, finding a place to store their rig during their ‘off-season’ is becoming a growing issue.
A trend towards smaller lot sizes and disapproval in some quarters for caravans and motorhomes left semi-permanently in driveways and on suburban streets has meant a surge in demand for vehicle storage options.
And that is why there was such dismay when, in the middle of last year, a West Australian council ordered the owners of a rural property to stop storing hundreds of caravans, motorhomes, boats, trailers and other vehicles.
Monty Shipman and Carol Swailes had been providing parking space for up to 120 vehicles on their land for more than five years without valid development approval from the City of Wanneroo.
However, after a public appeal from the vehicle owners, many of whom said they had no space to park them at their own suburban properties, the council has had a change of heart.
The Wanneroo Times reports that, in the five years the service had been operating, there had apparently been no issues from immediate neighbours. Furthermore, the property – which used to be a plant nursery – no longer had a water licence, so it could not be used for agriculture.
Mayor Tracey Roberts said she understood why the facility was created to meet demand within the wider community.
“It’s affordable and residents know that their asset is in a safe environment and well kept environment,” she said.
Councillor Dot Newton said she and several councillors thought it made ‘common sense’ to approve the use.
The Wanneroo Times reports that the change will need approval from the WA Planning Commission and Environmental Protection Authority before it goes out for public consultation for 60 days.
The council report said the proposal anticipated storing a maximum of 400 vehicles on the site at any given time.
.
We have secure storage for our van when not in use , the only problem being that we have to keep paying the monthly fee even when the space is empty to ensure that we have a space when we return
Alex Maynard, May we ask how much a week you’re paying and if you’re paying half that amount if you’re not there? And where is it situated? Thank you
So just like if you rent a house and go on holidays you have to pay the rent that’s due while you are away.
Small price to pay I would suggest.
Yes, this is a problem. We were quite naive thinking we only paid whilst in storage when we got the yearly acct!! We only need storage for 4 maybe 5 months.
Bit like a mortgage or a house to rent, and or insurance. “Bugger”.
it`s the same for all of us, but I guess someone has to have a winge.
We have paid parking for our caravan at our village and we pay for the privilege so we can come and go as we please.
No struggle, when we downsized we made sure we included a caravan carport in our new very small house.
Heathcote Caravan park here in the Sutherland Shire just South of Sydney are making a dollar or two from van storage, glad to be able to store our van at home.
Congratulations to the Wanneroo council. Common sense has prevailed. Not all home owners have an area to park their Van’s. The business was supplying a good service and everything above board except for the application . Good to see that Red tape beauracy hasn’t interfered in the long term.
We keep the van in our sloping front yard, beside the driveway. Not ideal, but best we can do ATM.
The councils have too much power. Some rules and regulations are just ridiculous.What possible problem would Mr Shipman be causing.Funny how things change when they may need a couple hundred votes. Stevo.
Is there a need for more caravan storagecplaces…we are currently looking into this..is it viable..to own this sort of business.
Absolutely there is. Wish I had the dollars to create on. I store mine on the Sunshine Coast, $110 outside $180 a month under cover. When you go away you keep paying. If you don’t like that then take your chances if there is a vacant spot when you get back which would be outside until you progressed down the waiting list for an undercover one if that’s what you wanted. I have no problem paying full freight when I’m away, it’s either that or pot luck later on. Expensive, yes, but what are the options?
Theres a place called Autohouse Storage in Darra (Brisbane) that is good for both undercover and outdoor Caravan storage – fairly priced and you can access your rig 24-7 as long as you give them some notice. Speak to Lachlan – he’s a nice chap and very helpful.
We recently relocated from north Qld to a hilly town in south Qld, but made sure we had a yard large enough & flat enough to build a shed big enough to house our motorhome. It was difficult with hungry councils approving smaller blocks & narrower streets
We have a caravan parked in the street i keep it in rego so what about all the trucks amd old cars dumped .i have one more thing beening parked on the side of the road it dose slow some cars down .