Where are full-timers supposed to go if van parks close?
As at least one local council closes its authority-run caravan parks, the Caravan Industry Association of Australia (CIAA) has urged the Federal Government to ensure that van parks remain considered as essential services and are therefore free to remain open.
For now, business premises such as offices, factories, retail dealerships, and caravan parks are considered essential services.
“We estimate that there are currently 75,000 people in Australia today away from their normal place of residence or using an RV as their permanent home,” the CIAA said. “This is on top of the tens of thousands who call caravan parks home … it is therefore vital that caravan parks remain an essential service, to give individual operators the ability to make their own decision on whether to open or otherwise.”
The Association notes that this choice was taken away from some businesses in the broader Australian community when the Prime Minister, Scott Morrison, announced that pubs, clubs, restaurants, and entertainment precincts were to be shut down. The Association expects that this may eventually extend to businesses over and above those agreed to by the National Cabinet and announced by the Prime Minister.
“We strongly encourage that all businesses, but in particular caravan parks, maintain a register of all visitors (not just primary contact) for the purposes of contact tracing of necessary,” the Association said. “Caravan parks should also consider the closing or limiting access to common facilities such as amenity blocks, camp kitchens, swimming pools and the like.”
While the Association said it applauded the Government for its economic stimulus packages to help industry businesses, it feared it still might not be enough for some.
“We have heard from many businesses regarding the difficulties and interruption to business which these travel restrictions have caused and the potential future interruption which may occur, on the back of an already devastating summer and slow retail market,” the Association said. “It is clear that we must deal with the current crisis as it develops, as well as make preparations for a strong and early response to encourage Australians to go caravanning and camping when it is safe to do so.”
Warrnambool Holiday Park Simpson St is open for fully self contained vans on power sites and for those who require showers etc we have ensuite sites available .
We were looking to take the kids away for 5 days we have our own facilities in my van but when they said no travel we thought we’d have to keep the kids at home for 3 weeks or more and community like Warrnambool needs our money coming in
Stay home, this is continually been stressed. Or end up in total lock down with Marshall law
You should actually be staying home if you have children and isolating with your family you should not be traveling at this serious time
I think vans with full ensuite should be able to visit caravan parks. There is no need to use their facilities. We want to support these parks to stay open. Staying a distance from your neighbour would be quote easy.
The problem with having to stay in caravan park is the cost
Here in Kununurra WA its $1200 mth
So ya cant stay to long
We are use to just camping out in the bush
Why should caravan parks be open to non residents who don’t live there
This comment is a bit selfish. Parks were built to accommodate holiday makers young and old, kids or no kids. The Australian caravan industry is huge. I can keep my distance in a park as well as home. Many of us MTE,s (mature tribal elders) travel north to get away from the southern winters to avoid colds, flu etc.
I can understand why southern nomads come up to QLD in winter.
It does make it difficult for us Qlders to get a holiday site at this time of year as the parks are full of southerners.
Pleas don’t be affende.
In the current situation there will be no southern visitors to Qld the border is closed if we all abide by the directions given and stay home this situation can hopefully brought under control .our annual trip north has been canceled stay safe eveyone
Thank you for being sensible. The sooner this virus is contained the sooner we can all begin to have life return to more normality a step at a time.
Because they heir caravan is in here home and Australia is their backyard so why shouldn’t they be allowed in a caravan park that to me sounds like a selfish question
Because their caravan is their home
Easter and coming school holidays could be a real issue with social distancing requirements. Other than that every second site available to keep parks open and trading.
We have ALL been told stay at home. But are the grey nomads going to stay in one place till this all over?
My husband and I are staying put but your attitude towards grey nomads sounds bitter. You are generalising. All races, cultures, citizens, grey nomads are people. Different people NOT to be put in one category. Live your own life.
So good to hear your coment on staying put. I think thats what all full time travelers on the road at the moment should be doing and those that are just having a short holiday or thinking of heading off on the big lap should stay home till this all passes.
Agreed-
We have no other residence & we don’t “travel” but live in the Lithgow/Bathurst area fulltime in our motorhome. Our PO Box & GP are in Lithgow. We have lived in our motorhome since 2018. We have no house or unit. We avoid caravan parks as we’re usually crammed in 2-3m away from the next vehicle which to me, isn’t the self-isolation we had in mind. We stay in free campgrounds & once weekly, head into Lithgow or Bathurst to shop, dump & fill & visit a laundry..then back to an isolated spot with no contact with others at all. It seems the optimal self-isolating lifestyle. My husband is on the waiting list at Orange Hospital for minor surgery which at this stage, looks doubtful. We received word this morning that despite free campgrounds closing, we are permitted to stay as we have no other place of residence. We’re being hampered however, by people continuing to travel despite the warnings & it makes the council’s & the police’s jobs harder. We’ve had to explain our situation now to 4 policemen. Travellers can spread the virus..They can overwhelm a country town’s medical & food resources. If you don’t travel now, you will actually survive. Latest modelling suggests if we all practice social distancing-80%+-this could be contained by July. Please think twice before travelling-
Most grey nomads would stay in one place for duration of non essential travel requirements if given the choice. Majority are self contained, just want reassurance that places don’t suddenly close & have to seek alternative site requiring need to travel unnecessarily.
Some of us are stuck in places like Tassie waiting to come home. Are we supposed to camp on side of the road til we can get on TTP to get home? With no toilet? Be real. Not selfish
Ye I will ive been in this park the last 6 months in Hervey Bay why would I want to go anywhere ♀️
Snowy River Holiday Park in Dalgety NSW is open to self contained caravans, motorhomes. Bookings essential 64565000
I have cancer and live in my caravan self contained
I have moved to a free site to keep away from people government donot care they will be rigth
We have two weeks booked at Tallebudgera. We still really want to go. We are self contained and I believe that a caravan meets the regs of social distancing. Obviously we would not mix with others while at the park.
We live in a Permanent caravan park site and its still open for business.
What is your right to get your money back from a caravan park if you decide not to go now the virus is spreading? We have paid in full for Easter bit do want to go and risk it?
Just stay home everyone! It’s simple.
You have been told to stay home people. Wat don’t u get. People are dying and u still want o go on holidays. Get real
I believe everybody should return to their normal place of residence, or stay exactly where they are obeying govt requests for a minimum 14 days at each stop.
What a recipe for disaster. Caravan parks will be the next cruise ships. What happens when someone in the caravan park falls ill with COVID-19 and you are miles away from family and in a Regional town with limited health services? Most likely in a Regional town with an ageing population. Country towns do not want Grey Nomads travelling across the state and spreading the virus. It is really very simple, STAY AT HOME.
All parks should be closed at this stage and should be enforced
myself, my wife and 2 young children live in our RV on the Road, so are you saying the Caravan Parks should be closed to us and if so where do you expect us to stay?
Yes John we have been holidaying at Crescent Head. The caravan park we are staying in is closing Sunday we where expecting this andwill be heading back home to the south coast.
We are stuck in W.A. and were wondering is it worth heading home to Victoria or stay where we are. Can we have an opinion please. Apparently places north of us are closing their roads and not letting anyone in
Stay where you are
You need to come home, 48hrs ago we left Albany and with a night at Nullabor Roadhouse we are now in Port Augusta. Tomorrow night we will be in Vic, with our SA police doc in hand. It has been made very clear to all that you need to return to your place of residence and asap.
Our van is ready to go but won’t be going anywhere until this COVID 19 is under control. The government has told us not travel and States have closed their boarders to stop the spread of this viris. Do the right thing and stay home. Max
I am a grey nomad – full time caravaner, if they continue to shut caravan parks eg. Rosebud etc. There will be nowhere to stay, other than roadside stops or free camping with no amenities. What’s the logic, caravans are in the fresh air and reduces risk, where Centrelink quees are packed and asking for spread of virus.
So will reality bite and van parks charge less.
Or maybe open up their cabins for cheaper short term accom.
Communal amenities will be alive with the virus, only takes one person. No continual cleaning etc. Not everyone cleans as needed to contain this. Perhaps a limited ammount & a dump point that gets disinfected might work, plus complete social distancing, stay at own camp only.
So many comments about grey nomads staying home. WE HAVE NO HOME OTHER THAN OUR CARAVAN!! Where will we stay if all the caravan parks are closed? Who has recognised this situation?
Do we stay long term in dodgy free camps? In rest areas? Where will it be legal? National Park campsites closing too. Please rethink this!!!
When lock down comes you won’t be travelling anywhere. Better start looking for other alternatives.
OMG. I am so glad somebody has finally brought this up were do one’s like us go who only have there caravans to live in if we are fully self contained let us stay in free camp’s then they can shut there caravan parks down to new commers . Surely they can police free camp’s the same as van parks I know I would feel safer out in the bush than in a fully packed caravan park .Government need to rethink and consider all not just one’s in house’s. They could do it state by state.
So we are currently in Tasmainia, the State Park Rangers have just come and told us that where we are will be closing, all National Parks are closing. This is fine and understandable but our question is where do we go? We come from Darwin, our house is rented out, so we are a long way from home with no home. Our family in Victoria and Adelaide is in the vulnerable group so we can’t go to them? Besides I don’t think we are allowed to. So what do we do? Where do we go? We are in No-mans land so to speak.
Lock down, don’t travel.
We are grey nomads and have just temporary put our holiday on hold
Stay at home and this will be over sooner then you think
I cant believe that some of you caravaners are dumb enough to still wish to travel. Dont you understand what lock down means. For the health of the nation please get your head out of the sand and admit that caravanning is a liesure activity, which is banned. Wake up to yourselves.
Caravans should stay open but not for people who want to take their kids on holidays. We are going towards lockdown and that’s what we should do stay home and prepare. But for those that the caravan is their home they have no choice and need a place to lockdown.
Some of the comment it’s school holiday we need to take kids on holidays I hope you are in your van with your kids 24/7 as there will be no sightseeing being done LOCKDOWN IS LOCKDOWN …..
As someone who works in a caravan park and the caravan is my home .I believe it’s essential for caravan parks to remain open for those willing to stay put .They need to be in the park and stay for however long it is required .People moving in and out of parks put staff and customers at risk .If the parks do not remain open where can people like me go. First of all I wouldn’t be working and second of all I’d have to go stay on the side of the road somewhere .
What about me, my bus was my home and on moving from the caravan park that I called home for 10mths it burned down, now I have no home and no place to call home, and no place to self isolate. Be thankful you have life, preserve it by using your common sense and doing what is best for society so we all have a future.
I had to leave my rental in melbourne so I am camping in nsw near Coffs Harbour on a free site I am alone here so it’s good health wise even if boring. I have food and water music and a road bike to ride also go fishing and metal detecting
The Coffin Bay Caravan Park is open to accommodate caravanners who are permanently on the road (no fixed address) , workers required for essential services, along with the residents who live in parks permanently and potentially those unable to get home at this time. The Coffin Bay Caravan Park will continue to provide these services unless advised otherwise by authorities.* Bookings only accepted via phone (0886854170) for those people affected